Sarah Jessica Parker was forced to miss the Olivier Awards on Sunday – as she had to fly straight back to the States to start work on And Just Like That.

The Sex and the City star, 59, was up for Best Actress at the awards show for her West End debut in Plaza Suite, opposite her real-life husband Matthew Broderick.

The couple starred in romantic comedy at the Savoy Theatre from January, and went on to extend the play’s run, with the final show taking place on Saturday night.

However, Sarah was unable to bask in her success for long, as she had to get straight on a flight back to New York to film for the third season of And Just Like That.

A representative for Sarah told MailOnline that the actress had to leave immediately as she had already been late to start work on the Sex and the City spin-off.

Sarah Jessica Parker was forced to miss the Olivier Awards on Sunday evening, as she had to fly straight back to the States to start work on the new season of And Just Like That (pictured in Plaza Suite)
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Sarah Jessica Parker was forced to miss the Olivier Awards on Sunday evening, as she had to fly straight back to the States to start work on the new season of And Just Like That (pictured in Plaza Suite)

The Sex and the City star, 59, was up for Best Actress at the awards show for her West End debut in Plaza Suite, opposite her real-life husband Matthew Broderick (pictured together in 2022)
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The Sex and the City star, 59, was up for Best Actress at the awards show for her West End debut in Plaza Suite, opposite her real-life husband Matthew Broderick (pictured together in 2022)

However, Sarah was unable to bask in her success for long, as she had to get straight on a flight back to New York to film for the third season of And Just Like That (pictured in show)
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However, Sarah was unable to bask in her success for long, as she had to get straight on a flight back to New York to film for the third season of And Just Like That (pictured in show)

They added that she had let the Oliviers board know beforehand that she would be unable to attend the ceremony.

The prestigious theatre awards took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall and saw appearances from a host of famous faces, including Andrew Scott, Nicole Scherzinger, Cara Delevingne, David Tennant, Michael Sheen and James Norton.

Sarah had been up against some stiff competition in her category, with Laura Donnelly, Sophie Okonedo and Sheridan Smith also nominated, but the prize went to Sarah Snook.

The actress, 36, scooped the award for her mesmerising one-woman performance in a production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray, which sees the Succession star play all 26 roles.

Sarah’s star turn in Plaza Suite marked her first theatre appearance in almost three decades.

She last tread the boards in 1995, when she took over the Rosemary Pillkington role from Megan Mullally in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway.

She will return as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That, which was renewed for another season in August after the second series concluded.

However in December, HBO Max announced that viewers won’t get to see season three of the show until 2025.

Olivier Awards 2024: WINNERS AT A GLANCE

Best Actor: Mark Gatiss  – The Motive and the Cue

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Will Close – Dear England

Best Actor in a Musical: Tom Francis – Sunset Boulevard

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Jak Malone – Operation Mincemeat

Best New Play: Dear England

Best New Musical: Operation Mincemeat

Best Actress: Sarah Snook – The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Actress in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger – Sunset Boulevard

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Haydn Gwynne – When Winston Went to War With the Wireless

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Amy Trigg – The Little Big Things

Best Revival: Vanya

Sarah had been up against some stiff competition in her category, with Laura Donnelly, Sophie Okonedo and Sheridan Smith also nominated, but the prize went to Sarah Snook (pictured)
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Sarah had been up against some stiff competition in her category, with Laura Donnelly, Sophie Okonedo and Sheridan Smith also nominated, but the prize went to Sarah Snook (pictured)

Sarah's star turn in Plaza Suite marked her first theatre appearance in almost three decades (pictured in the play)
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Sarah’s star turn in Plaza Suite marked her first theatre appearance in almost three decades (pictured in the play)

She will return as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That, which was renewed for another season in August after the second series concluded (pictured in the show)
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She will return as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That, which was renewed for another season in August after the second series concluded (pictured in the show)

The production delay is likely mostly due to last year’s WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes, with the writers room only going back to work in early November – according to Deadline.

Sarah and Matthew were first set to star together in Plaza Suite at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway, beginning in March 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of Broadway houses.

Eventually, after the pandemic had eased, the pair reset their commitment to do the play in March 2021.

In April 2022, the production temporarily paused performances after both Matthew and Sarah tested positive for COVID-19.

The revival was initially set to close on June 28, 2022, but its run was later extended to July 10 of that year to compensate for cancelled performances.

The West End run kicked off on January 17, and was expected to go for 10 weeks, until March 30, before it was extended until April 13.

Plaza Suite is romantic comedy composed of three acts, each involving different couples living in Suite 719 of New York City’s Plaza Hotel, with Sarah and Matthew playing all three couples.

The synopsis reads: ‘Karen and Sam are a long-married pair whose relationship may be headed for an early checkout. Muriel and Jesse are former high school sweethearts who seem destined for an extended stay.

Plaza Suite is romantic comedy composed of three acts, each involving different couples living in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel, with Sarah and Matthew playing all three couples (pictured in the play)
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Plaza Suite is romantic comedy composed of three acts, each involving different couples living in Suite 719 of New York City’s Plaza Hotel, with Sarah and Matthew playing all three couples (pictured in the play)

Sarah and Matthew are one of Hollywood's rare success stories, having been together since 1991 and married for more than 26 years (pictured at Plaza Suite afterparty in January)
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Sarah and Matthew are one of Hollywood’s rare success stories, having been together since 1991 and married for more than 26 years (pictured at Plaza Suite afterparty in January)

The 2024 Oliviers Awards were once again presented by seasoned stage and screen star Hannah Waddingham , who returned for the second consecutive year following her consummate job as compere in 2023 (pictured on Sunday)
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The 2024 Oliviers Awards were once again presented by seasoned stage and screen star Hannah Waddingham , who returned for the second consecutive year following her consummate job as compere in 2023 (pictured on Sunday)

‘And Norma and Roy are the mother and father of the bride, ready to celebrate their daughter’s nuptials — if only they can get her out of the bathroom.’

Sarah and Matthew are one of Hollywood’s rare success stories, having been together since 1991 and married for more than 26 years.

They are the proud parents of three children: son James, 21, and twin daughters Marion and Tabitha, 14.

The 2024 Oliviers Awards were once again presented by seasoned stage and screen star Hannah Waddingham, who returned for the second consecutive year following her consummate job as compere in 2023.

She opened the event with singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe, while the ceremony finale marked the National Theatre’s 60th anniversary.

Performances came from best new musical nominees including The Little Big Things, Next To Normal, Operation Mincemeat and A Strange Loop, alongside best musical revival nominees Guys & Dolls and Hadestown

Individual presenters on the night included Dominic West, Michael Ball, Michael Sheen, Rosalind Plowright, Sir Lenny Henry and Michelle Visage.