Is there life after Samantha Jones? For 10 years, the ‘sexy clown’ (her own description) of the HBO series-turned-feature film Sex and the City has inhabited much of Kim Cattrall’s career, making her a household name, and garnering her numerous awards and accolades.

Now the 51-year-old thespian can add another trophy to her collection, as Banff will honor Cattrall with its NBC Universal Award of Distinction for a 33-year career that dates back even further than a role as a sexy gym teacher in the raunchy Canuck teen comedy – and domestic box-office champ – Porky’s (1982).

The U.K.-born, Vancouver-raised Canadian talks about her adventures filming Sex and the City: The Movie (one memorable scene features a nude Cattrall draped in sushi), and reflects on the challenges of playing something other than that vixen Samantha, as well as her passion for theater.

Playback spoke to Cattrall, on the phone from New York, on the day the Warner Bros. film opened in theaters.

How difficult is it to move away from the character of Samantha, which is so all-encompassing?
It’s so fascinating to play something for such a long period of time. Samantha’s been in my life for 10 years…that’s a long time to live with anybody. A lot of marriages don’t last that long! (laughs)

You are linked, there becomes an alter-ego feeling about it. But I had a strong career before this juggernaut and I continue to have one…now I’m just in the wonderful position of saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to projects. It’s a tremendous boost for your career, especially as you get older. I started this series when I was in my 40s, and now I’m in my 50s. For most women [of this age] there are no roles.

What’s your favorite scene in the movie?
I love the outrageousness of the sushi scene because it’s so crazy. I also love the fact that [director] Michael [Patrick King] is brave enough to allow one of his main characters to turn 50 and celebrate it, instead of in the usual Hollywood terms of her locking herself up in the bathroom and crying her eyes out. We call that scene ’50 and fabulous’ and I love that. It’s a very strong sign that things are a-changing.

Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?
When I was 12, I saw a production of As You Like It and [British actress] Janet Suzman played Rosalind. As the lights went down, I turned to my mom and I said ‘I want to be an actress.’ I followed her career, and then, about 35 years later, I was making my debut in [London’s] West End, and [director] Sir Peter Hall called me and said, ‘I think we can get Janet Suzman to play the judge at the very end of the play,’ and I told him that I had to send her flowers [because] of how she had inspired me. The greatest thing is that we have become very dear friends.

What’s been a career highlight, other than Sex and the City?
The things that I’ve done in theater. I love the excitement of telling a story to a new audience every night. You don’t get that in the film world. I love perfecting what I do…that I can go back every night and add a little more blue or red, inhabit that pause a little more. I always look at my film work and think ‘oh, if I just had another take.’
Would you be content just doing theater?
Oh yes. It would be more difficult, as far as you don’t have anywhere near the earning power in theater that you do in film and television.

Does something like the Banff award of distinction force you to slow down and reflect on your career?
Getting an award like this makes you feel ‘Oh, I guess the walker is going to be creeping around the corner.’ (laughs)

But at the same time, I really am so fortunate to have had the success that I have. I did work hard, so it’s very gratifying, especially for my friends and family who have been there, supportive, watching the stumbles and falls, and me picking myself up again. I’m very grateful to have lasted this long in a business, especially with women, where you feel very disposable at times.

What does it mean to have it presented at Banff?
The fact that I’m getting it in Canada at Banff means a great deal. I attended the Banff Centre for the Arts when I was 12 and spent the summer there…and it was one of the best summers that I can remember. Every day was about rehearsals – singing, acting and dancing…it was a very happy time for me.