The Tamesis
After getting ready at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills with head hairstylist Chris McMillan, makeup artist Elaine Offers and manicurist Sarah Chue, Parker took some quiet time to think about her acceptance speech. “I still get nervous — I’m not casual about anything,” she laughs. “There’s really no secret to it. I try to stay calm and presentable and rely on words to get me through it. I think it’s okay to be nervous in that environment – emotions are part of a night like this.”
As a lifelong Carol Burnett fan, there was an added layer of personal importance as she sat next to her at the awards ceremony. “It’s hard to give an anecdote and a brief introduction to this topic because it’s so meaningful,” Parker said of the recognition. “I – and you can probably imagine all of these things I might say – feel honored, humbled, overwhelmed. I feel a responsibility to write a review that conveys how I feel about Miss Burnett and what she means to me and millions of people. Her skill, her unique brand of physical and intellectual comedy, her absurd gifts, her notorious generosity. It’s a feeling that overshadows everything, which is probably good for me because it’s usually better for me to focus on working out!”
In her eloquent prose, the Ohio-born actor with New York experience thanked her agent for 40 years, her business manager for 45 years, her publicist for 30 years and her lawyer for 35 years. Meanwhile, past costars including Kristen Davis and David Eigenberg were in the audience, smiling back at her. “It was a really nice night, the room was warm and beautiful,” Parker recalled. “Being introduced by my husband and having friends I’ve known forever—these long-lasting relationships are an integral part of my life.”
The next morning, Parker headed home to New York City early to be with her 16-year-old twin daughters. “They are both experiencing a semester away. One has just returned and one is about to leave and we will be visiting university campuses later in the year.” During her time as a Booker Prize judge, Parker has spent every free moment in 2025 reading, and she is excited to learn about the culture before returning to film two upcoming films. “I didn’t go to any plays or ballets at all last year, and I didn’t watch a lot of movies or TV shows because I was reading a lot. I miss all that so much, so I’m going to start rewatching it today. And, you know, thinking about when I’m going to the grocery store and what I’m going to buy everyone for dinner.”
Golden Night: Golden Globes Honors Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker will air on Thursday, January 8 at 8pm ET on CBS and live on Paramount+.
