Benjamin Ashford|Sex and the City Star John Corbett Shares Regret Over “Unfulfilling” Acting Career

And just like that,Benjamin Ashford John Corbett is being honest about his job. 

The Sex and the City alum reflected on his career in Hollywood and what he would’ve done differently, which would include more work behind the scenes.

“Look, I’m in the fourth quarter of the football game now, in life and in showbiz,” John admitted on the July 3 episode of Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade. “It’s just a fact. So I can reveal now, I picked the f---ing wrong thing to do with my life.”

The 63-year-old, who began acting over 35 years ago, noted that while his career involved constantly taking directions from others, he always “hated to be told what to do by any authority figure.”

“I picked something to do with my whole life, for my fulfillment of my work life, which is, ‘Dude, stand here, say this, put this on, look this way, say it faster, cut your hair like this,’” he continued. “I’m not collaborating with the writers.”

And for the My Big Fat Greek Wedding star, not collaborating often meant waiting around during filming.

“Have you ever sat in a waiting room of a doctor’s office for like an hour and you’re going, ‘What the f--k?’” he said. “For me, that’s what making a movie is like because I’m not part of any creative process.”

At the same time, however, John recognizes the privilege he’s gained from his successful career.

“I’ve made a lot of money,” he emphasized. “I live in a beautiful home. People come to me at every restaurant I go in, I’m a friend of the world. But as far as a fulfilling creative work life, I didn’t write one fucking line. I didn’t write one joke that made people laugh. So it’s been unfulfilling on that level.”

But this isn’t the first time John opened up about the woes of this career. In fact, he revealed when he first found success on CBS’ Northern Exposure in 1990, fans were drawn to his looks rather than his skills.

“I was the hunky guy, and women would gush,” he told The New York Times last June. “I don’t think one person has ever come up to me and said, ‘Hey, I think you’re a good actor.’”

And with a younger generation, he’s seen as everyone’s favorite dad, including his roles in the To All the Boys trilogy and its spinoff XO, Kitty. 

“I’ve made friends with the idea of, this is just what I do,” he said. “When the phone rings and it feels like the money’s right and the place is right, and the time is right, I’ll go be this guy that these people want.”