(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Kim Cattrall felt ready to move on from her iconic Sex and the City role, and was delighted to pile on the pounds for a gritty independent film.

The 54-year-old actress - who played man-eater Samantha Jones in the hugely successful series - stars in Meet Monica Velour. The movie focuses on an ageing former porn star who now earns her money working in a sleazy strip club and Kim relished the challenge.

"I had to think about it long and hard," she told British newspaper The Daily Mail. "Then I thought, 'I'm not interested in being a sex icon for ever'. So I uglied down.

"I had to put on 20lb for the role and I loved it. I ate rubbish meals and McDonald's and chips and puddings and just everything. I got a spare tyre round the middle and wore clothes to match."

And it's made it clear to Kim that she should continue to choose roles that excite her rather than compete with younger Hollywood starlets. Kim has already insisted that she won't be going under the cosmetic knife anytime soon.

"I am not interested in being a Barbie doll and turning myself into a sausage for the next 20 years. I want to follow actresses like Helen Mirren and Judi Dench who have lines on their faces and aren't afraid of playing their age," she added. "Me saying yes to Monica got it made and that made me extremely happy. And I will keep going for as long as possible. That would be great." (C) Cover Media