Miranda Hobbes is a fictional character on the American HBO television series Sex and the City, its subsequent film spinoffs, and HBO Max revival And Just Like That.... She is played by actress Cynthia Nixon. Nixon received an Emmy Award and has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance.
| Miranda Hobbes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First appearance | Print: "The Crotch Problem" (1995) (The New York Observer) Television: "Sex and the City" (1998) (Sex and the City) |
| Created by | Candace Bushnell |
| Portrayed by | Cynthia Nixon |
| Duration |
|
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Family | Mrs. Hobbes (mother; deceased)[1] Betsy (sister)[2][1] |
| Spouse | Steve Brady (2004-21) |
| Children | Brady Hobbes (son) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University Columbia University |
Character information
editMiranda Hobbes first appeared in Candace Bushnell's newspaper column "Sex and the City" as a cable television executive in her early thirties.[7]
The television Sex and the City version of Miranda Hobbes is a fiery career-minded red-head, a Harvard-educated lawyer with a cynical take on relationships and men. As the series progresses, Miranda's cynicism softens, particularly after she becomes pregnant by her on-again, off-again bartender boyfriend, Steve Brady, whom she eventually marries. The birth of her son, Brady Hobbes, brings up new issues for her Type A, workaholic personality as she finds her way to balance career and motherhood. Of the four women, she is the first to purchase a Manhattan apartment, which she gives up when she moves into a Brooklyn town house in the final season to make room for her growing family.
Sex and the City: The Movie
editIn the feature length movie, Miranda is still married to Steve, and they are living in Brooklyn with their son Brady, who is now five years old. We learn that she is still employing Magda and that Steve's mother Mary is living in a nursing home, as she now suffers from advancing Alzheimer's. Miranda and Steve's relationship has become stale, with Miranda under the pressure of her job and caring for Brady. After a shared laugh one night over Miranda having a milk moustache, the two have sex in a moment of newfound passion, but midway through Miranda tells Steve to hurry up because she has to get up early, which upsets him.
At one of their coffee dates, Miranda tells the girls that she and Steve have not had sex in six months, and shortly afterwards Steve confesses he had sex with another woman one time out of frustration. Although Steve begs for forgiveness, Miranda insists on splitting up, and she moves to the Lower East Side. In a moment of short-sighted selfishness, she tells Big the night before his and Carrie's wedding that they are crazy to get married because it ruins everything, causing him to leave Carrie at the altar.
Miranda wants to confess everything right after, but Charlotte convinces her it was not really her fault, but Big's. The girls change the honeymoon trip into a holiday trip for themselves. Five months pass by before Miranda confesses it on Valentine's Day to Carrie about her wrongdoing. Carrie berates Miranda for wanting forgiveness while refusing to forgive Steve. Miranda and Steve go to couples' therapy, during which they decide to meet on the Brooklyn Bridge in two weeks if they want to forgive and forget what happened and start over.
Miranda starts contemplating her relationship with Steve by making a pro and cons list. She looks in the mirror and sees that she has a milk moustache. This makes her realize she wants to be with Steve after all and she hurries to the Brooklyn Bridge to reconcile with him.
Sex and the City 2
editIn Sex and the City 2, Miranda is an overworked lawyer who has no time to be a mom. She feels that she's being taken advantage of at work, passed over because she is a woman. When Steve suggests she quit her job, she is reluctant but does so after she is overlooked—then shushed—during a meeting.
Although she has every intention of returning to work, Miranda revels in her free time and happily makes it to Brady's activities. As part of her break, she decides to accompany Samantha, Carrie and Charlotte to Abu Dhabi. While there, Miranda takes charge of the group's scheduling and learns an impressive amount of Arabic. She also sympathizes with Charlotte for her feeling inadequate, confessing that it's exhausting being a "good" mother.
When Miranda arrives home, she looks for and finds a fulfilling job. She is last seen at an outdoor staff meeting of the more relaxed law firm where she is flourishing and appreciated.
The Carrie Diaries
editThe Carrie Diarie's showrunner Amy B. Harris revealed that if the show had been renewed for a third season, young Miranda would have been introduced as a character.[8]
And Just Like That...
editIn And Just Like That..., Miranda pursues a master's degree in human rights at Columbia University,[9] after being inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests. Brady is now a sexually active teenager. She finds herself drifting away from Steve, as their sex life has once again died out, and becoming attracted to Carrie's podcast co-host, comedian Che Diaz [10] (played by Sara Ramirez).[11] She and Che begin an affair and Miranda ultimately ends her marriage to be with Che, even giving up a prestigious internship to travel to L.A. with them.
Relationships
editSkipper Johnston
editSkipper Johnston (Ben Weber) is a 27-year-old website developer, with whom Miranda enters into a tentative relationship in the first season. Originally introduced by Carrie, Miranda finds Skipper young and immature, and is irritated by his romantic view of life and love, which contrasts sharply with her cynical outlook. Although they occasionally engage in an on-again, off-again sexual relationship, she never plans for him to become a serious interest.
In contrast, Skipper is terribly smitten with Miranda from the start, even going so far as to break up with a girl in mid-intercourse when Miranda calls, as he believes it means that "the woman he loves most" wants to be with him. Horrified at learning this, Miranda suggests dating other people, but Skipper, angered by Miranda's attitude, breaks it off and leaves. He is next seen when his latest girlfriend ends things with him and as this has happened a lot, Skipper is angry—attracting Miranda's attention again.
Dr. Robert Leeds
editDr. Robert Leeds (Blair Underwood) is a successful sports medicine doctor for the New York Knicks, whom Miranda meets while interviewing him with fellow members of her building's tenant board to occupy a vacant apartment. Upon Robert's arrival, Miranda is instantly charmed by him, and somewhat hijacks the interview in order to learn more about him. Robert eventually agrees to move in, and in time the two begin a short but lively romantic relationship. Despite Miranda and Robert's sparks of chemistry, Miranda cannot control her longing for her current on-again, off-again boyfriend, Steve Brady. Eventually, at her son's first birthday party, Miranda professes her love to Steve, and her relationship with Robert ends off-screen. After a few awkward encounters, Robert overcomes his anger towards Miranda and Steve, and is last seen in the series with two scantily dressed women in his apartment.
Steve Brady
editSteve Brady (David Eigenberg) and Miranda meet during the second season when Miranda is waiting for Carrie at the bar where Steve works. The two begin talking after Miranda has a terse phone call with Carrie, who has stood her up in favour of spending time with Big.
Although Miranda simply sees Steve as a one-night stand after they meet, Steve senses a strong connection, and he asks to see her again. Miranda refuses at first, but they become a couple after she realizes her strong attraction for Steve. The couple's difference in economic status creates tension in their relationship, and they eventually break up. However, they remain on friendly terms. After Steve loses one of his testicles to cancer and he becomes depressed, Miranda sleeps with him to show him he's still attractive, but she unexpectedly becomes pregnant.
Miranda initially decides to abort the pregnancy without informing Steve, but changes her mind and tells Steve he can be as involved as he would like in the child's life. She names the baby Brady Hobbes, a reference to both of their surnames, and they share custody of him. Miranda realizes suddenly while spending time with Steve and the baby that she's in love with him, but discovers Steve has begun dating another woman, Debbie, before she can tell him. Miranda also begins dating Robert, but eventually confesses to Steve her true feelings and they end their respective relationships with other people.
In the final season, Miranda spontaneously proposes to Steve and they marry in a small outdoor ceremony. They move to a townhouse in Brooklyn, despite Miranda's reluctance, to gain more space for their growing son. In Sex and the City: The Movie, Miranda separates from Steve after he tells her he had a one night stand. They go through counseling and address many of their issues, and ultimately reunite.
In "And Just Like That..." Miranda and Steve's sex life has become stagnant again and she finds herself attracted to non-binary comedian Che Diaz, who hosts a podcast with Carrie. Miranda and Che begin an affair that leads to Miranda ending her marriage to Steve and leaving for California to be with Che. Steve is devastated by the divorce but by the end of the second season the two make an effort to be friendly.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Season 4 episode 8: actress Becky Ann Baker as Betsy and Elizabeth Canavan as Catherine.
- ^ a b Existence mentioned in season 1 episode 10.
- ^ Mentioned in season 4 episode 17
- ^ a b Steve said that his father and grandfather had that name; season 4 episode 18
- ^ Mentioned by Mary Brady in season 6 episode 14
- ^ a b c d Mentioned by Mary Brady in season 5 episode 2
- ^ Bushnell, Candace (2006). Sex and the city (1st U.S. mass market ed.). New York: Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-61768-7. OCLC 70689339.
- ^ Bricker, Tierney; Santos, Kristin (May 9, 2014). "The Carrie Diaries Canceled: Boss Reveals How Carrie Would've Met Miranda and More". E! Online. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
- ^ "Fictional Columbia Alumni: TV Edition". Columbia Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ Patton, Elaina (Jan 23, 2022). "The agony and ecstasy of Miranda's coming out in the 'Sex and the City' reboot". NBC News. Retrieved Jan 29, 2022.
- ^ Mauch, Ally (February 3, 2022). "And Just Like That: Cynthia Nixon Suggested Miranda Be with Che Diaz Over 'Fumbling' Original Plan". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2022-03-14.