Once reliant on welfare and deeply ashamed of her challenging upbringing, the former child star overcame a childhood marked by poverty. Despite those early struggles, she eventually rose to prominence, becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated and influential figures.
This celebrity grew up as one of eight siblings in a family that often struggled to make ends meet, sometimes living without electricity and relying on free lunch tickets. Her life changed dramatically after finding fame as an actress.
The star’s strong work ethic can be traced back to her modest upbringing in the coal-mining town of Nelsonville, Ohio. Born to Stephen, an aspiring writer, and Barbara, a nursery school teacher, the realities of a working-class life shaped her early years.
After her parents’ divorce when she was a toddler, her mother later married Paul, a truck driver. Their blended family grew to include eight children, making frugality a necessity as they navigated the challenges of providing for a large household.
Growing up in a household where money was always tight, the future star became acutely aware of their financial limitations from a young age. “We were on welfare,” she explained in an interview, recalling a particularly uncomfortable experience from her childhood.
In the third grade at the Clifton School in Cincinnati, her teacher would call out her name each day, signaling her to walk to the front of the line to receive a free lunch ticket provided by the state.
“I knew I was different from the kids who pay for lunch or bring their lunch from home. It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving a free lunch, but you are aware,” the celebrity recalled. That awareness weighed heavily on her, marking her early years with a sense of otherness that lingered long after those school lunches.
Looking back, she described her childhood as “Dickensian,” a term often associated with hardship and scarcity. “I remember being poor. There was no great way to hide it,” she said. In a separate interview, the actress shared that their home, which didn’t have a TV, was often cluttered and “not pretty.”
The family often went without basic necessities and there were times when they had no electricity, missed out on Christmases and birthdays, and dealt with bill collectors. There were even occasions when the phone company would call to warn that their service was being shut off due to unpaid bills.
These moments of financial distress were impossible to ignore, especially since the children were old enough to witness the toll it took on their parents. “And we were all old enough to either get the calls, or watch my mother’s reactions or watch my parents shuffling the money around,” the star noted.
While some stories suggest their electricity was frequently shut off, the actress clarified, “That’s definitely exaggerated, although there were some Christmases where we went without presents. But my parents gave us so much love.”
The family’s financial challenges also affected their clothing, with the mother buying each of her daughters two pairs of shoes a year and 99-cent dresses from a corporate outlet. “It was not unusual to get them there or at rummage sales,” said the actress’s mother in a joint interview.
Though they “didn’t have everything” they wanted, the star recalled, “we had everything we needed.” Her mother, described as a “master juggler,” managed the demands of raising eight children while juggling work and household responsibilities.
“If you ask her she’ll say she was a wreck. There’s plenty of screaming that went on in the house but I think it was necessary just to be heard. There were eight children!” the movie star explained. Growing up in a lively, often chaotic household, she developed a quiet yet commanding presence, able to communicate with just a whisper.
When asked if she ever imagined the life she now leads, the actress admitted, “No. I would never have imagined this life. From a young age I imagined becoming an actor. And that’s probably as much as I would have ever dreamt of.”
Watching her parents’ quiet determination to make ends meet left a lasting impression, shaping the drive and motivation that would later propel her toward success.
Family has always been a cornerstone of Sarah’s life. This value was deeply tested in September 2022 when her stepfather, Paul, passed away. His death came just one day after the actress missed the New York City Ballet’s annual fall fashion gala due to a family emergency.
Paul, who married Sarah’s mother, Barbara, in 1969, died at age 76 after an “unexpected and rapid illness,” according to a statement released by the family. In his final moments, he was “surrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife Barbara of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker.”
Aside from disclosing details about her upbringing, her life with her loved ones, and how important family is to her, the “Hocus Pocus” actress has shared reflections about aging in the entertainment industry.
During a 2023 Sirius XM interview with Howard Stern on his show, Howard asked Sarah about her perception when she looks in the mirror. He questioned whether she sees “a good-looking human being” when she does.
“I mean I’m presentable […] I don’t really like looking at myself. I don’t—I never have—I like a fitting and getting in costume, I don’t know. I mean I think I’m fine,” answered Sarah. Howard then asked her if she ever does any facial enhancement and cosmetic procedures like facelifts and Botox.
“I think about all of it […] I ask people all the time, like, ‘Is it too late?’ […] Now, people will be like, ‘Well you don’t now [sic] not only look rested, you look like an entirely different human being,” divulged the star.
On the matter of whether she ever felt like facial enhancement procedures were a necessity, Sarah confirmed that she has never felt this way.
She added, “I mean, I go to a dermatologist and there’s like, you know, you can get like a peel, and then they like—there’s like a machine […] you know, and then you’re like a little red when you leave. I’ll do any of that stuff. I honestly think […] I missed out on the facelift.”
After Howard praised how great Sarah looked, she revealed, “Eh, I’ve heard stories. But I do understand why people make the choice because there is so much emphasis put on, especially women and primarily women, about looks. Even last year when we first went on the air with the new season and there were just so many endless articles about, you know, aging and aging gracefully.”
She also mentioned articles that were written about her and her graying hair specifically. “First of all it’s not but who cares? I’m sitting next to Andy Cohen whose head is covered in gray hair and you’ve not mentioned that at all. So I understand why women feel like there is just—there is so much chatter […] and opinions,” noted Sarah.
She concluded her reflections by confirming that she sees nothing wrong with people doing whatever makes them feel comfortable with themselves and “walking out the door.”
Sarah Jessica Parker’s journey from a modest upbringing to Hollywood success reflects her deep-rooted values of family, hard work, and humility. Despite fame and fortune, she remains grounded in the simple, meaningful moments that have always defined her life.
