Kim Cattrall was always distinctly different to her Sex and the City character

She told People: "I remember in particular, doing that series, people wanted to speak to the character as opposed to me because she was fascinating, wonderful, smart and intelligent and sexy and irreverent and all of those wonderful things that we could be. But she wasn't me."

Kim also admits that her life is very different these days, having consciously withdrawn from the bright lights of Hollywood.

The actress shared: "I have a home on Vancouver Island, which is my hideaway and basically my paradise because I'm right in the middle of nature.

"It's long walks. It's reading books I've never had the time to read - or reread. I love women's fiction. It's more solitary, just me and my partner [Russell Thomas]."

Kim also feels she's no longer defined by her acting career.

She said: "I think it defines me less.

"Kim has taken over, and not the characters she's played, in a very definite way. The last 10 years have been more about exploring me, not connected to my work, but my own choices."

Meanwhile, Kim previously confirmed that she won't shoot another sex scene.

The actress explained that she is no longer "interested" in appearing in a nude scene.

Kim told Variety: "I'm in great shape. But I'm just not interested. I feel like I filled my quota on that one - and without an intimacy coach."

Kim has enjoyed huge success during her career, starring in various movies, TV shows and stage productions. However, she still hasn't achieved all of her ambitions.

Asked if there's anything she'd still like to do, she said: "I'd like to do my own sitcom. I think that would be a lot of fun with an audience - playing a woman my own age. I have a very specific idea of what I want to do."