In a recent interview with The Times of London, Cattrall said she turned down the role of Samantha in “Sex and the City” four times before deciding to join the show. Her hesitance stemmed from a bout of insecurity that Cattrall labeled “self-inflicted ageism.”

It might seem impossible to imagine anyone other than Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, but the now iconic character initially took her some convincing.

Cattrall's thoughts ahead of the show's 1998 debut highlight the differences between the fierce actress and the character she portrayed