KEY POINTS

  • Kim Cattrall was one of six honorees at Variety's Power of Women event Thursday
  • She shared how saying "no" helped her in navigating her personal life and managing a career
  • The "Sex and the City" star revealed some instances in her life when saying "no" served her

Kim Cattrall has revealed that "no" is the most important word in her career.

The "Sex and the City" alum, 65, spoke at Variety's Power of Women event Thursday, where she discussed the power of saying "no."

Cattrall, who played power publicist Samantha Jones from 1998 to 2004 but turned down offers to reprise her iconic role in various reboots of the "Sex and the City" franchise, explained in her speech that the word is complicated and life-changing.

"I want to share with you something that has been a tremendous help to me over the years in navigating my personal life and managing a career," Cattrall told entertainment executives and fellow Power of Women honorees, Page Six reported. "It’s simple, but at the same time is very complicated. It’s a word. And the word is 'no.'"

Cattrall didn't mention the show specifically in her speech but mentioned examples of taking satisfaction in saying no.

"'No, that’s not for me,'" she shared. "'No, I have been there, I have done that.' 'No, I won’t be bullied.' 'No, that salary is unacceptable.' 'No, we are not having a meeting in your hotel room.'"

But Cattrall said her favorite instance of saying "no" was when she told The Guardian in 2019, "I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m not enjoying myself for even an hour."

"No helps define yourself, your boundaries and your goals, it keeps you creative and embraces change. It can allow you to transition out of one chapter and believe there will be more exciting chapters to come," she explained.

She went on to tell the crowd that they are the screenwriter of their lives and that "saying no to the past is saying yes to your future."

Cattrall has been open about her lack of interest in reprising her role as Samantha in the "SATC" franchise. She turned down a script for a third movie in 2017.

Cattrall told Piers Morgan at the time that it wasn't "about more money, this is not about more scenes … This is about a clear decision, an empowered decision in my life to end one chapter and start another."

When the reboot "And Just Like That " was created, she confirmed to Variety that she was never asked to be part of it after she made her feelings clear about returning to the franchise during discussions about a possible third movie.

During her 2017 with Morgan, Cattrall had claimed that her relationship with her "Sex and the City" co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis was toxic and that they had "never been friends."

Cattrall was being honored at the Power of Women dinner for her work with the Actors Fund, a nonprofit that offers financial assistance and money for medical procedures to members of the entertainment industry, as her charity of choice, according to Variety.

Queen Latifah, Amanda Seyfried, Camila Cabello, Venus Williams and Drew Barrymore were also honored for their philanthropic work.

Kim Cattrall
Pictured: Actress Kim Cattrall attends a photocall during the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival at The Apex Hotel on June 17, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images