Today, we're pitting film actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Winona Ryder against each other in a contest to determine which one was cooler. Both actresses got their start in the 80's, and both were child stars that went on to have successful careers as adults (not always an easy feat!)
Sarah Jessica Parker was the third actress to play the lead in the Broadway production of "Annie." She would follow that with numerous television roles, appearances in "Footloose" and "Firstborn," and a starring role in "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." Her career really clicked in the 90's, with star turns in "L.A. Story" and "Honeymoon In Vegas," and then her signature role in the HBO series "Sex And The City."
But, while many will always remember her as Manhattan Sex Columnist Carrie Bradshaw, children of the 80's might be more inclined to remember her for her character on the short lived 80's sitcom "Square Pegs." The show only lasted one season, but it's unvarnished portrayal of the trials of adolescence presaged everything from John Hughes films to "Freaks & Geeks." What was the name of Sarah Jessica Parker's character on "Square Pegs?"
Bonus Question: Much as it was with Parker, Winona Ryder's most significant roles as an actress came in the 90's. But the film "Heathers" was probably more satisfying for anyone who felt tormented by their high school experience. Who hasn't wanted to blow up the school on Prom Night? Ironically, Ryder's agent begged her not to do the film, predicting it would be the end of her career. Instead, it cemented her reputation for being able to sympathetically portray a young person who exists at the fringes of the social order. In any case, if one looks closely, it's evident that the creators of the film "Heathers" were very focused on teen archetypes in conceiving of the film. In fact, two of the characters in the film are named after well known teen comic book characters Which ones?