Sarah Jessica Parker recalls feeling ‘angry and embarrassed’ during Robert Downey Jr. romance

Sarah Jessica Parker made a rare remark about her past romance with ex-boyfriend Robert Downey Jr, who she famously dated between 1984 and 1991.

While reflecting on their seven-year relationship, which ultimately ended due to his battle with addiction, the 58-year-old Sex and the City star recalled feeling frustrated that her efforts to help the Iron Man actor went unnoticed by his inner circle. 

‘People around him would be dismissive of me, but I had given him stability and tried to create a steady heartbeat that allowed him to show up on time,’ she explained to The New Yorker.

She went on to say: ‘That made me angry and embarrassed me.’

The exes first met on the set of their 1984 drama Firstborn, when they were both just 18 years old, and moved in together after just eight weeks of dating.

Looking back: While reflecting on their seven-year relationship, which ultimately ended due to his battle with addiction, the 58-year-old Sex and the City star recalled feeling frustrated that her efforts to help the Iron Man actor went unnoticed by his inner circle (pictured in 2022)

Downey, Jr. told the publication, through his representative, that he still has ‘great respect’ for the mother-of-three, who has been married to Matthew Broderick since  1997. 

Previously, the six-time Golden Globe winner reflected that Downey Jr was ‘the first person that’ she ‘lived with.’

‘His career was really just beginning. I was so proud to see his success and, you know, watch him grow professionally,’ she gushed to YES Network in 2018. 

She described their time together as ‘a really adventurous’ and ‘important’ time in her life. 

Back in 2008, Parker’s former beau opened up about how his addiction issues drove them apart. 

‘I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn’t jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is,’ he told Parade in 2008. 

The father-of-one concluded: ‘She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn’t get my act together. I was in love with Sarah Jessica … and love clearly was not enough.’ 

After reuniting in 2015, Downey Jr. sang Parker’s praises during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. 

‘People around him would be dismissive of me, but I had given him stability and tried to create a steady heartbeat that allowed him to show up on time,’ she explained to The New Yorker; seen in 1989

Former couple: The exes first met on the set of their 1984 drama Firstborn, when they were both just 18 years old, and moved in together after just eight weeks of dating (seen in 1990)

‘She’s so great and so cool and so funny and so in-command,’ he marveled, at the time. ‘I got to meet her kids and I saw the way she and [husband Matthew Broderick] live and I respect both of them so much.’ 

Parker and Broderick, 61, share a son, James Wilkie, 20, and 13-year-old twin daughters Tabitha and Marion.  

Meanwhile, Downey Jr., who has been married to Susan Levin since 2005, shares his son, Indio, 29, with ex-wife Deborah Falconer. 

Before tying the knot, Parker also dated John Kennedy Jr., Joshua Kadison Jr., and Michael J. Fox.