Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City is an Author, Fashionista and a Scared Little Girl

In the early 1990's, author Candace Bushnell created "Sex and the City," a column that appeared in the "New York Observer." With a finger firmly on the pulse of the upscale Manhattan crowd, Bushnell reported from the front lines of the ongoing war between the sexes. Bushnell's column became a hit, inspiring a book, a wildly popular television series and the first "Sex and the City" movie in 2008.

As the opening day of "Sex and the City 2" rapidly approaches, here's an analysis of Carrie Bradshaw, the character and narrator who is, in many ways, Bushnell's alter ego.

Carrie Bradshaw likes long-term relationships-just not with the same man

As portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, Carrie Bradshaw is a New York City writer who tends to lead with her heart. In the early episodes of "Sex and the City," Carrie meets a man known in the series only as "Mr. Big" (Chris Noth). For the rest of the series, the Bradshaw/Big relationship has both positive and negative effects on the plotline and Carrie's friends.

Wealthy, charming and good-looking, Mr. Big has a tendency to keep Carrie at arm's length, leading to a series of painful break-ups. Their love/hate relationship frustrates Carrie's friends, especially Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), who openly declares that she won't nursemaid Carrie through another "Big" break-up during one episode. Carrie even confesses to other boyfriends that she can't get Big out of her mind.

In the final episode, though, Big, whose real name turns out to be John James Preston, finally tells Carrie she is the one for him, setting the stage for the events in the first "Sex and the City" movie.

Carrie Bradshaw is both a modern woman and a scared little girl

During the run of "Sex and the City" on HBO, Carrie Bradshaw is, for the most part, a confident Manhattan woman with a career and a brain. The perfect pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, however, can still make her weak in the knees. It's safe to say that Carrie is a fashionista, looking for the prefect outfit for any occasion. She doesn't realize, though, that she looks adorable in a simple sweatshirt and hair scrunchy.

Like her real-life persona Candace Bushnell, Bradshaw also is a brilliant writer that turns her observations about the complicated male/female dance into a series of newspaper columns and books. She has confidence in her abilities, which is one of her many attractive qualities. Carrie Bradshaw has great command of the English language, but has problems saying what's in her heart at times.

Fear sometimes overwhelms Carrie, especially of what other people think of her. During one episode, Carrie has to wear a skimpy outfit for a runway show, which turns into a near-disaster. Still, the strong Carrie Bradshaw was able to overpower the scared little girl and turn the negative into a positive on the runway.

What to expect from Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City 2"

Although there was a sense of closure at the end of the first "Sex and the City" movie, Carrie Bradshaw and her friends return to the theater on May 27 for the sequel. Will Carrie, John "Mr. Big" Preston and her shoes continue to live happily-ever-after, even in a turbulent economy? Will Carrie's loyalty be challenged by an old boyfriend? Stay tuned.

"Sex and the City 2" opens nationwide on Thursday, May 27.

Resources:

http://www.candacebushnell.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Bradshaw

http://www.sexandthecitymovie.com/