How did she overcome lookism as a woman in hollywood?

Great body, great head.

She looked fine in Striking Distance but that was it imo.

She's smart. She didn't get a nose job where every other actress did.

Made her stand out. She also has a kick ass body.

Looks are subjective. She is not conventionally attractive, but there is something sexy about her in my opinion. Especially when she was younger

Not attractive. Like Johansson. There is / was a "buzz" about them.

Do you really need to ask?

She shares a common religion with half of Hollywood.

By being funny, that's how. She started out in sitcoms and did a lot of film comedies, and she had a really great figure that she was able to play some "The Girl" roles, roles that called for an actress that was funny and likable, and sexy but not really beautiful.

That was enough to keep her on the B-list until "Sex in the City", which started out as a comedy before it turned its focus to whining.

"ATTRACTIVE" PEOPE AND TALENTED ACTORS ARE NOT VERY OFTEN THE SAME PEOPLE...IT HAPPENS ...BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT GOOD ACTORS ARE NOT SUPER BEAUTIFUL BUT ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH AND THE TALENT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE...SJP WAS VERY ATTRACTIVE...NOT A MODEL BUT VERY GOOD LOOKING AND PRETTY TALENTED.