Top 10 Celebs Who Were on Sex and the City Before They Were Famous

In this episode, Charlotte decides to distract herself from her own woes by helping others. She volunteers to assist people with visual disabilities, but the coordinator suggests some hands-on training first. So, she and Carrie head to Barneys. However, when Carrie gets distracted, a blindfolded Charlotte ends up roaming the store solo. Eventually, they meet up again in the shoe section, where Carrie’s being assisted by none other than Bravo bigshot (and Sarah Jessica Parker's friend) Andy Cohen. He doesn't exactly speak, but he sure seems to approve of Carrie's taste in footwear. Cohen shared that he also appeared in a season four episode, but it was cut from the televised take.

No, we definitely haven’t overlooked the name connection here. But long before Mrs. Preston was even a glimmer in the writer’s eye, the real Carrie Preston made a memorable appearance in this season two episode. She plays Madeline Dunn, Miranda’s interior designer, who she accidentally sets up with her crush. Who knows where life took this couple after their nuptials? What we do know is that Carrie Preston’s career has come a long way since then. You might recognize her as Arlene Fowler from “True Blood” or as Elsbeth Tascioni from “The Good Wife,” “The Good Fight” and “Elsbeth.” She has also taken a turn behind the camera on a few occasions.

If you’re a fan of “Suits,” you probably know Macht as the ambitious, wry, and hardworking Harvey Specter, a shark in the legal system. However, long before he donned one of his stylish suits, he played Barkley, the “modelizer.” In a speech laden with misogyny, Barkley explains to Carrie what it is that attracts him to models, essentially likening them to the art he creates. In fact, he even makes them subjects of his art in a grossly non-consensual way. Samantha later goes out with him to prove that she’s just as attractive as the women Barkley typically goes after. If you ask us, Harvey would eat Barkley for lunch.

Today, when we think of Slattery, it’s likely as “Mad Men’s” charming Roger Sterling, who enjoys that carefree lifestyle. However, do you remember his brief turn as politician Bill Kelley on “Sex and the City”? It all starts when he crosses paths with Carrie at an FDNY charity event on Staten Island. Despite her initial hesitation, something clicks, and they start dating. Their romance blossoms as she joins him on the campaign trail, but things hit a snag when a proposition puts a dampener on the relationship. Slattery’s expressed interest in revisiting the role in “And Just Like That….” Will he still be dabbling in politics? Maybe his new slogan could be: “Ur-in(e) Good Hands.”

Remember when Miranda dates a guy she thinks has a rather quirky fixation? She meets Jack at a bookstore, where they bond over historical biographies. They quickly hit it off, and things get steamy everywhere but the bedroom. Eventually, she discovers why, and it's cringier than she imagined. Just a few years later, Arnett would land the roles many of us know him for today— Gob Bluth in “Arrested Development” and the eponymous BoJack Horseman. He's not the only Bluth to appear in “Sex and the City” either. Tony Hale, a.k.a Buster, once played a photographer’s assistant hired by Samantha to take some revealing photos in the episode “The Real Me.”

Bobby Cannavale has done it all: TV, movies, and theater. However, before landing his breakthrough role as Paramedic Bobby Caffey in “Third Watch,” he played Adam Ball, a handsome suitor who, let’s say, leaves Samantha with an unpleasant aftertaste. While their relationship reaches an impasse, Cannavale’s star status rose. Fans came to know him as Will’s boyfriend, Vince D’Angelo, in “Will & Grace” and Gyp Rosetti from “Boardwalk Empire,” two roles that earned him Primetime Emmy Awards. He also has a plethora of film credits to his name and has continued to tread the boards. Needless to say, His career has come a long way since the days he played Samantha’s unappetizing beau.

Before she was serving sass to diner customers, scouting for secret gigs with Nick, or joining the Marvel Universe, Kat Dennings took her first professional bow as Jenny Brier. Jenny’s a spoiled 13-year-old who ropes Samantha into planning her Bat Mitzvah. While she shocks the women with her PG-13 attitude, she also teaches them a valuable lesson about enjoying life and not trying to rush to the next step. She may have only had a one-episode appearance, but she made every second count. Since then, Dennings’ career has soared, gracing both the big and small screens. Titles like “Raise Your Voice,” “The House Bunny,” and “Dollface” only scratch the surface of her impressive repertoire.

When Elizabeth Banks appeared in “Sex and the City,” she couldn’t have predicted her rapid rise to fame in both acting and filmmaking just several years later. You might know her from “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” but she truly left her mark in hits like “The Hunger Games” and the “Pitch Perfect” franchise. Now, let’s rewind to her early days: she played Catherine, the fiancée of a man Charlotte hits on. As the two women chat, Catherine unwittingly shares some unusual dating advice. This gig happened so early in her career that she’s actually credited as Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell. Later, she changed her name to avoid confusion with another actress, Elizabeth Mitchell.

Remember when Justin Theroux played Stanford’s obnoxious friend Jared? Carrie uses him as a palette cleanser of sorts after her latest bust-up with Big. Oh, that’s not the character you remembered? Well, maybe you’re thinking of his role as Vaughn the following season, a short story writer Carrie dates, who, let’s just say, it’s not just his tales that have quick endings. She’s also way more into his family than him. Today, Theroux is best known for his roles in “Mulholland Drive,” “American Psycho,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” and “The Girl on the Train.” He’s also gained attention for his role as Kevin Garvey in HBO’s “The Leftovers” and for his screenwriting work.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Eddie Cahill, “Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl…”
You May Recognize Him from “Friends,” “Miracle,” “CSI: NY” or from One of this Series’ Most Poorly Aged Storylines

Timothy Olyphant, “Valley of the Twenty-Something Guys”
The “Deadwood” & “Justified” Actor Played a 20-something Year Old with Whom Carrie Has a Brief Dalliance

Chandra Wilson, “Anchors Away”
Before She Was Saving Lives in “Grey’s Anatomy,” She Was Supporting Samantha’s Right to Put Her Cheating Ex on Blast

When Carrie crossed paths with Jake, a wild party animal, little did she know she was mingling with a future top-earning actor! Cooper made his TV debut in “Sex and the City,” showcasing the charm that would later define his Hollywood career. Incidentally, “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison is another now-famous face to keep an eye out for in this episode. Anyway, “The Hangover,” “ Silver Linings Playbook,” and “A Star is Born” actor may have had a small role, too, but it comes at a pivotal moment in Carrie’s story. We couldn’t help but wonder what she’d say if she knew she’d passed on People’s 2011 Sexiest Man Alive— now that would make a great column!

Did you spot any of these famous faces, or did you spy someone else entirely? Let us know in the comments.