Movie star, mom, mogul -- it's no wonder Sarah Jessica Parker is considered America's golden girl. And it seems she's taking that title quite literally.

Wearing a slinky, gold one-sleeved Balmain dress, the "Sex and the City 2" star shines on the cover of June's Marie Claire magazine.

Though the sexy metallic dress is just the type of number a style icon like Parker seems born to wear, the Ohio native admits it wasn't until becoming Ms. Bradshaw that she felt comfortable in her Louboutins.

"I've never revealed as much or been so daring or made quite as many triumphant mistakes as Carrie," 45-year-old Parker tells Marie Claire. "But I'm now bolder than I would have been had I never played this part."

The actress, who has gone from Gap pitchwoman to president and chief creative officer at Halston -- not to mention launching seven fragrances -- since the 1998 premiere of the hit HBO series, adds that she has learned to become a better friend because of her character.

Parker effectively shoots down rumors of off-camera infighting among her and cast mates Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis.

"When you're on set, you're working 90-hour weeks, you're never home, you're exhausted," says Parker.

"There are times when all of us have been sensitive, and sometimes feelings get hurt. But I don't have any regrets about how I've treated people." Adds rumored rival Cattrall, "The chemistry among the four of us is very strong."

You can see it for yourself by picking up the June issue of Marie Claire, out May 11. Parker fronts the newsstand edition, while her "SATC2" co-stars, who are featured in the accompanying interview and photo shoot, each appear on individual covers sent to subscribers, with Nixon in Christian Dior, Cattrall in Valentino, and Davis in Oscar de la Renta.

The magazine previously did separate covers for each actress in July 2008, in conjunction with the first "Sex and the City" movie.

In related news, read how playing Charlotte York gave Kristin Davis body confidence.