Blair Underwood has revealed he initially turned down a role in Sex and The City.
The actor, 59, is currently starring in Longlegs, the scariest film of 2024, but one of his first major breakout moments came when he played Miranda Hobbes’ love interest Dr Robert Leeds in 2003.
Robert moves into Miranda’s apartment just as she’s trying to come to terms with Steve’s new relationship.
She’s immediately bowled over but their whirlwind romance is short-lived after Miranda and Steve finally realise they’re the ultimate couple goals.
However, Blair was first offered another part as one of Samantha’s many lovers.
‘The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy!’ he told AV Club.
‘And I said, “Listen, I’m honoured, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.”’
Blair added that at the time he’d never actually seen Sex and The City but was aware it was ‘a big hit’.
When he was approached again he asked if his storyline would revolve around race which they assured it wouldn’t be.
‘I think it really did only come up maybe once. I did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about “a Black doctor” that Miranda was dating,’ he said.
‘And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as “the Black guy.” I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great.
‘They said, “No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.” And it was amazing.’
Sex and The City ended after six seasons in 2004 before fans endured two movies and a terrible but very fun reboot, And Just Like That.
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Sex and the City is available to stream on Netflix.
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