SARAH JESSICA PARKER
Once Upon a Mattress (1997)

Before she had Manolo Blahnik and Chanel, Parker spent her evenings in dance shoes and frilly frocks, treading the boards in a revival of Mary Hart's musical Once Upon a Mattress. A spoof of Prince Charming-style fairy tales — Parker played a disillusioned, ball-busting lady-in-waiting — the show proved that the future Carrie Bradshaw could dance and sing with the best of 'em. (Which makes sense — she got her big break starring as Annie on Broadway in 1979.) Parker is married to film star-cum-Broadway royalty Matthew Broderick and continues to make appearances at openings and at the Tonys (incuding an impromptu onstage dance with host Hugh Jackman — in character as Peter Allen — in 2005).