Light those birthday candles, folks: An icon turns 70 today!
Kim Cattrall, that is: The Canadian actor—best known for portraying the fierce New York City power publicist Samantha Jones on Sex and the City—celebrates her milestone birthday this year (she would be a Leo, wouldn’t she?). And in honor of the special day, what better time is there to look back on some of her very best red carpet looks over the years? (A formidable task as there’s a lot to choose from.)
Cattrall’s iconic character Samantha Jones may get all the glory for her sexy, sleek wardrobe on TV (thanks to the masterful costume designer Patricia Field, of course)—but Cattrall’s red carpet history proves that she’s always had style all her own. Bursting onto the acting scene in the 1980s, the actor has since cultivated a distinctive approach to Hollywood dressing that’s all about form-fitting silhouettes, commanding colors, and of course, fabulous sequins.
What are some other highlights from Cattrall’s decades in the spotlight? It’s impossible to pick just a few looks—though there have been some particular standouts. Her love of bold colors has stolen the show in particular. Take the 2003 Golden Globes, when she won the Best Supporting Actress award for Sex and the City: Cattrall chose a plunging gown with a built-in cape in one of her signature colors, red. A year later, at the 2004 SAG Awards, she chose a one-shouldered Lanvin gown in a shocking magenta. From tangerine to teal, there hasn’t been a color of the rainbow that Cattrall hasn’t pulled off.
Many of her winning fashion moments, of course, have also stemmed from her years promoting Sex and the City. When the first film premiered back in 2008, Cattrall leaned into a gray Vivienne Westwood strapless frock with ruching and ruffling. For the buzzy sequel film’s London debut in 2010, she opted for a vintage black strapless Thierry Mugler dress from the ’90s. Her love of both custom and archival? The years of portraying Samantha have rubbed off on her, in the best way.
And those are just a few of Cattrall’s knockout style serves—because at 70, she’s still in her fashion prime. Below, scroll on for 70 glorious Cattrall looks, in honor of her 70th birthday.