Movies And Plays Have Parker A Little Behind On Sleep

Sarah Jessica Parker has been having a devil of a time getting a good night’s sleep lately. The poor woman has been tormented night in, night out while trying to get some much needed beauty rest.

Well, truth be told, she’s actually just having a hard time sleeping on the job - she’s Princess Winnifred in “Once Upon a Mattress,” the Broadway musical based on the children’s fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea.”

But the actress might be forgiven for having a few bags under her eyes in real life considering the hectic schedule she’s been keeping - she’s been in three movies and two plays in the last year.

She was the ditzy television reporter who became disembodied in Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!” On the other end of the spectrum, she starred in “The Substance of Fire” based on Jon Robin Baitz’s play about the clash of a Holocaust survivor and his children over the family publishing company.

In April, she joins Jennifer Aniston, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dylan McDermott in the romantic comedy “‘Til There Was You.”

Last season, she played a dog in the title role in “Sylvia,” an off-Broadway comedy that became a hit.

1. How did you prepare for the head shaking, arf-arfing role of Sylvia?

Parker: That was a really fun part, really fun. I mostly based it on my boyfriend Matthew Broderick’s dog Sally, who I adore. I get to say she’s my dog now, too. She was my muse.

2. Is Matthew Broderick supportive of your work?

Parker: I would hope so, since he’s my boyfriend, that he would be supportive of what I do. I’d rather not talk about him. Of course he’s supportive, as I am for him. I would hope we would be generous with one another since we are involved and hopefully care.

3. Which is more fun, starring in a Broadway production or a film?

Parker: I’ve been fortunate enough to have really great experiences in theater and in film. It is terrifically fun to perform with a live orchestra every night. I don’t mean to suggest it’s a better experience than film but it is probably ultimately more enjoyable.

4. Is anybody else in your family in show business?

Parker: My mother and stepfather met in a regional theater production of “Once Upon a Mattress” in Athens, Ohio. She was Lady Larken and he was Sir Harry, who marries her. But they weren’t in show business. They were doing it for fun. My brother, Timothy Britten Parker, is in “Rent” on Broadway. … He has been in all of Jonathan Larson’s shows. I think he’s the only one in the cast who has been in all of them.

5. Why is your billing Sarah Jessica Parker?

Parker: It’s my real name, my whole name. Sarah Jessica is like a first name, not like a first and middle name. It’s like Mary Lou; that’s what I was called.