Underwood's Diverse Addition To Sex And The City

Sex And The City actress Cynthia Nixon has welcomed newcomer BLAIR UNDERWOOD as her character's latest love - because she feels it's time the show broke down some racial barriers.

FULL FRONTAL star Underwood plays DR ROBERT LEEDS, who romances Nixon's cynical lawyer Miranda.

And even though sex-mad show staple Samantha Jones has broken down race barriers with every minority, from African Americans to a Hispanic lesbian, Underwood's character represents the first time one of the City foursome have engaged in a fully-fledged interracial romance.

Nixon says, "We all of us, and no one more than SARAH JESSICA (PARKER), had lobbied for this for a long, long time. I'm a huge fan of the show, but if we had one area in which we really could use improvement, it's certainly this one.

"I think Candace Bushnell, who wrote the original columns, the world she writes about is extremely white. And (series creator) Darren Star would say, 'I know these people. I move in these circles. It's a very white circle.'

"That's an argument to be made. But it is six years later now, and I think it's irresponsible. I think it's about time."

The only person not proud of the show's new achievement is Underwood himself.

He laughs, "It's a non-issue. I think that's more current in this day and age, when it's not a novelty to see interracial dating on television anymore."