Kristin Davis

Kristin Landen Davis (also listed as Kristin Lee Davis; born February 23, 1965) is an American actress and producer. She is known for playing Charlotte York in the HBO romantic comedy series Sex and the City (1998–2004). She received nominations at the Emmys and the Golden Globes in 2004 for her role as Charlotte, and reprised the role in the films Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2 (2010), as well as the revival of the show And Just Like That... (2021–2025) on HBO Max.

Davis's big break came in 1995, when she was cast as the villainous Brooke Armstrong in the Fox prime time soap opera Melrose Place (1995–1996). Her film credits include The Shaggy Dog (2006), Deck the Halls (2006), Couples Retreat (2009), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) and Holiday in the Wild (2019). Davis made her Broadway debut playing Mabel Cantwell in the 2012 revival of The Best Man, and her West End debut playing Beth Gallagher in the original 2014 stage production of Fatal Attraction.

Early life and education Davis was born on February 23, 1965, in Boulder, Colorado. She is an only child, and her parents divorced when she was a baby. after he married her mother, Dorothy, a university data analyst, in 1968. She has three stepsisters from her father's first marriage. Early in her childhood, she and her parents moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where her father served as provost and taught psychology at the University of South Carolina.

Davis wanted to be an actress from the age of nine, when she was cast in the Workshop Theatre production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Davis lived in South Carolina until she graduated from A.C. Flora High School in 1983. She received Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series her role as Charlotte in the final season, and well as Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film nomination. During her time in the show, Davis guest-starred on Friends in the episode "The One with Ross's Library Book", and Will & Grace episode "Will & Grace & Vince & Nadine". She played leading roles in the 1999 miniseries Atomic Train alongside Rob Lowe, and television movies including Blacktop (2000), Three Days (2001) and The Winning Season (2004).

Davis hosted the VH1 show 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons in 2003. In 2005, she starred in a television pilot entitled Soccer Moms in which she and Gina Torres star as suburban mothers who moonlight as private detectives. She starred as Miss Spider in the animated television series Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends and was a guest judge on the Lifetime program Project Runway.

In 2012, Davis starred in and produced the Lifetime television film Of Two Minds In 2014, she returned to series television with starring role in the short-lived CBS sitcom Bad Teacher. In 2016, she starred in Hallmark Channel film A Heavenly Christmas. In 2020, she hosted Fox reality series Labor of Love.

Film Davis made her movie debut in the 1988 comedy slasher film Doom Asylum. In 1990s, she had secondary roles in films Nine Months (1995) and Sour Grapes (1998). Her later films include The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D (2005), opposite David Arquette and George Lopez; the 2006 version of The Shaggy Dog, opposite Tim Allen, and Deck the Halls, opposite Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito.

Davis appeared in 2008's Sex and the City feature film, under the direction of executive producer Michael Patrick King. The film was a box office success and amassed $415 million at the worldwide box office, despite mixed reviews. It was Davis' first movie to reach #1 at the US box office. Davis reprised her role of Charlotte York a second time in 2010's Sex and the City 2, which grossed $290 million worldwide but was widely panned by critics. She remained interested in a third installment of the franchise.

In 2009, Davis co-starred in the romantic comedy film Couples Retreat, a comedy chronicling four couples who partake in therapy sessions at a tropical island resort. Jon Favreau, who also co-wrote the script, played her husband. The film opened at No. 1 during its opening weekend at the US box office, making it her second film to do so. In 2010, Davis was cast as the mother of Josh Hutcherson's character in the adventure movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. The film opened theatrically in February 2012 and passed the $100 million mark at the US box office, being Davis' third film to achieve this.

In 2015, Davis was credited as producer on the documentary Gardeners of Eden, that comments on the illegal ivory trade. In 2019, Davis starred in and produced romantic comedy-drama film Holiday in the Wild for Netflix. The film was pitched to her, after the producers had noticed her philanthropic work with elephants.

Stage Davis made her Broadway debut in July 2012, when she replaced Kerry Butler in the revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. She made her West End debut playing Beth Gallagher in Fatal Attraction at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, in March 2014.

Additional ventures

Shortly after the wide release of the Sex and the City feature film, in June 2008, Belk, the nation's largest privately owned department store chain, announced a partnership with Davis. The arrangement includes a ladies' apparel and accessories line that debuted in 2008 in 125 store locations and online, with eventual plans for expanding availability to other store locations. In Belk's press release about the product line launch, Davis cited her upbringing in South Carolina as part of her inspiration for working with the chain. In late 2009 Belk cancelled the arrangement, citing the difficult economic conditions prevailing, while Davis said she hoped to take the line elsewhere.

Philanthropy and recognition Davis is a Global Ambassador for Oxfam, and has campaigned in support of their work since 2004, travelling to locations including Haiti, Mozambique, and South Africa. In 2011 she gave a tearful interview with BBC News describing the situation at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya where she witnessed the impact of drought.

During her 2009 visit to Africa, Davis, a lifelong lover of elephants, discovered an abandoned baby elephant and arranged for it to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. In recognition of the attention she has brought to the plight of orphaned African elephants, Davis won the Humane Society's 2010 Wyler Award, which is bestowed on a celebrity or public figure who has made news on behalf of animals. She is also a patron of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which works to protect elephants and other wildlife in Kenya.

In 2023, Davis was awarded The Perfect World Foundation Award for her exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation and advocacy. This prestigious honor, often referred to as "The Conservationist of the Year," recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the protection of biodiversity.

Davis has worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is included on their list of "High Profile Supporters". In 2015 she visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Davis later filmed a fund-raising appeal supporting the UNHCR, and in 2016 visited Australia to promote the UNHCR's work, focussing on the plight of women victims of sexual violence in Congo.

Personal life In 2011, Davis adopted a daughter, and in 2018, she adopted a son. The family resides in the hills of Brentwood, Los Angeles, California.

Davis is a recovering alcoholic and says she was introduced to alcohol early as part of her Southern upbringing.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1988 Doom Asylum Jane 1995 Nine Months Tennis Attendant Alien Nation: Body and Soul Karina Tivoli 1998 Traveling Companion Annie Sour Grapes Riggs 1999 Atomic Train Megan Seger 2000 Blacktop Sylvia 2005 Max's Mom 2006 Rebecca Douglas Deck the Halls Kelly Finch 2008 Sex and the City Charlotte York Goldenblatt 2009 Couples Retreat Lucy Tippaglio 2010 Sex and the City 2 Charlotte York Goldenblatt 2011 Jack and Jill Delilah 2012 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Elizabeth Anderson 2019 Holiday in the Wild Kate Conrad Also executive producer 2021 Deadly Illusions Mary Morrison 2024 Cash Out Amelia Decker 2027 Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes1991 General Hospital Betsy Chilson, R.N. 23 episodes N.Y.P.D. Mounted Young Lady Television film 1992 Mann & Machine Cathy Episode: "Billion Dollar Baby" 1993 Bri Episode: "The Breakdown: Part II" 1994 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Carey McGee Episode: "Thanksgiving" 1995 ER Leslie Episode: "Luck of the Draw" 1995–1996 Melrose Place Brooke Armstrong 32 episodes, recurring cast (season 3), main cast (season 4) 1996 Claire McGrath Television film1997 Leslie Episode: "Johnny Hollywood" Babette Watson Television film Seinfeld Jenna Episodes: "The Pothole" / "The Butter Shave" 1998–2004 Sex and the City Charlotte York Goldenblatt 94 episodes 2000 Friends Erin Episode: "The One with Ross' Library Book" Sex and the Matrix Charlotte York MacDougal Short parody Take Me Home: The John Denver Story Annie Denver Television film Blacktop Sylvia 2001 Someone to Love Lorraine Three Days Beth Farmer 2004 Will & Grace Nadine Episode: "Will & Grace & Vince & Nadine" Mandy Television film 2004–2008 Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends Miss Spider 35 episodes (Voice role) 2005 Soccer Moms Brooke Television pilot 2012 Of Two Minds Billie Clark Television film, also producer 2014 Bad Teacher Ginny Taylor-Clapp 13 episodes 2016 A Heavenly Christmas Eve Television film 2020 Labor of Love Herself Host 2021–2025 And Just Like That... Charlotte York Goldenblatt 33 episodes, also executive producer

Theatre Year Title Role Location 2012 The Best Man Mabel Cantwell Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre 2014 Fatal Attraction Beth Gallagher Theatre Royal Haymarket

Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref. American Comedy Award 2001 Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Sex and the City Golden Globe Awards 2004 Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Humane Society 2010 Wyler Award Herself People's Choice Award 2009 Favorite Cast Sex and the City The Perfect World Foundation 2023 Conservationist of the year Herself Primetime Emmy Awards 2004 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Sex and the City Screen Actors Guild Awards 2001 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Sex and the City 2002 2003 2004 2005 Women in Film Honors 1999 Lucy Award Herself