Cattrall Sizzles In <i>The City</i>

On the HBO series Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall plays the wildest of a foursome of single women friends. Her uninhibited character, Samantha, frequently winds up in risqué situations while looking for Mr. Right.

Cattrall talked about the show, which begins its third season June 4, with Early Show Co-Anchor Jane Clayson, with emphasis on her character, Samantha Jones.

"I think that we're really expressing a voice that has not been heard from before," says the actress. "I think that that's women talking about their lives in a very honest, truthful way and about their sexuality, which I think, for society, has been a scary subject, women talking about their appetite."

The conversations between the four fictional friends also give male viewers a chance to be "a fly on the wall," says Cattrall, adding, "The first season, a lot of men, I think, were frightened by it. But then I think they learned too much and are using it, and it's helping them with their relationships and intimate details of their lives, and that's a positive thing."

And if you think Samantha's antics are a bit over the top sometimes, Cattrall has a word or two to say to you: "I think it's about time we had Samantha Jones on TV. I think she's delicious and exciting and empowering and really a wonderful role model for women to say 'yes' to their sexuality."

A couple of typical Samantha lines:

"All relationships are built on lies and mutually acceptable delusions."

and

"It's slim pickings out there. You can't swing a Fendi purse without knocking over five losers."

Samantha Jones is nothing like Kim Cattrall, the actress insists. "It sometimes takes me a little while to be brave enough to say and do the things I have to do," she says. "But I have a process that works pretty fast and easy. It's so liberating for me to play the character."