Sarah Jessica Parker Says Watching ‘Initial Audience’ of Sex and the City Pass Down Love of the Show Is ‘Humbling’ (Exclusive)

Sarah Jessica Parker loves that Sex and the City has stood the test of time — from generation to generation.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actress, 60, reflects on the HBO series’ impact, and what it means to her that original fans of the show can now share their love of it with younger audiences.

“It’s hard to describe what it has meant, not just to me, but to all of us, because you feel words are inadequate,” Parker says, referring to herself, as well as other original series stars Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon.

Seeing Sex and the City‘s fandom grow over the years — whether through the original show or follow-up films or other television spinoffs — the mother of three reiterates, is a feeling like no other.

“To watch an entire new generation discover the show, make it their show, have all these very strong feelings about it, not all that are positive even, … and then be having those conversations with their parents, who were our initial audience, you can’t plan for these things. You can’t try to produce a show that does that, because then it’s not real,” Parker explains. “It’s a kind of humbling gratitude that is very hard to find adequate words to express.”

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Sex and the City followed Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, Davis’ Charlotte York, Cattrall’s Samantha Jones and Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes, as they navigated all of life’s ups and downs as women.

It later spawned two movies, 2008’s Sex and the City and its sequel two years later, plus a CW series, The Carrie Diaries. A revival and sequel show, And Just Like That…, saw its finale air on Aug. 14.

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The Sex and the City universe, based on Candace Bushnell’s newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name, has a massive following — with hardcore fans of all backgrounds.

Some, Parker tells PEOPLE, include those she wouldn’t have necessarily expected, including NBA players, first responders and New York City police officers.

Throughout the years, as Sex and the City‘s supporters have grown and evolved, one thing has always remained the same, though — that Parker will not pay attention to fan chatter.

“I don’t have the constitution for that, because I think you’re going to perhaps read things or hear things that don’t always feel great,” she tells PEOPLE. “When you’re part of a community, people are going to have a lot of feelings. And it doesn’t mean that a feeling can’t change, it’s a reaction. We want very much for people to have all those feelings, and it’s not for us to police or try to correct them.”

“So I’m a very inexperienced troller or a sneaker around-er, because I think that conversation is better left not in any way witnessed or babysat by me,” adds the Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award-winner.

Parker herself doesn’t even want to watch the show or its various spinoffs as a fan either. “I don’t like watching myself. I don’t find it pleasant, it’s not fun for me. I don’t find it enjoyable, and I think the further away it gets from me, the more complicated it would be for sentimental reasons, and maybe even for emotional reasons,” she said during a Q&A hosted by Threads at il Buco al Mare in Amagansett, N.Y., on Aug. 11.

All seasons of And Just Like That…  and Sex and the City are available to stream on HBO Max.