An unexpected yet exciting addition has been announced for the Booker Prize judging panel — Sarah Jessica Parker. You might recognize her as a book enthusiast from her role on “And Just Like That.”

The Booker Prize Foundation shared on Tuesday that Parker will be part of the panel of judges for the 2025 Booker Prize, working alongside four notable authors.

This is not Parker’s first venture into the literary world; however, it is certainly her most notable. Last year, she launched her own imprint, “SJP Lit,” in collaboration with independent publishing house Zando, and she previously served as an editorial director for “SJP for Hogarth.”

She expressed her feelings about this new role, stating, “When I entered the publishing world, I felt nervous about being taken seriously and often felt like an outsider, needing to prove my worth. Being a judge for the Booker Prize, the most esteemed literary honor, feels intimidating.”

Parker’s Approach as a Booker Prize Judge

Parker continues this tradition of literary love: she recently posted on Instagram about reading on a film set, saying, “When they are changing the lens.” The props team on “And Just Like That” even curated a list of 120 books, sourced from Parker’s own recommendations, to fill Carrie Bradshaw’s bookshelves. She frequently shares her latest reads on social media.

This year, she may need to tackle up to 170 books for the prize, which is feasible due to a lull in her filming schedule.

In a 2022 Instagram post from the Foundation, she enthusiastically wrote, “Oh let me try!!!!” when asked about the experience of being a Booker Prize Judge.

Understanding the Booker Prize

The Booker Prize, established in the U.K., is a distinguished annual literary award that recognizes what the judges consider the single finest piece of fiction written in English. In July, the Foundation announces a “Booker Dozen” consisting of 12 or 13 nominated books, followed by a shortlist of six titles in September, and ultimately the winner in November. The victor is awarded £50,000, roughly $63,000.

This year’s Booker Prize winner was “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey, a science fiction novel narrating the experiences of six astronauts orbiting the Earth over a 24-hour period.

Typically, Booker judges are authors or academics, a fact Parker acknowledges.

She shared, “I plan to listen intently. That approach has shaped my career outside of acting: immersing myself among experts and absorbing as much as I can.”

Parker’s inclusion on the Booker judging panel exemplifies the growing trend of integrating pop culture with literature, as seen in the rise of celebrity book imprints and book clubs over the last decade.

Other Judges for the 2025 Booker Prize

This year marks a milestone as it is the first instance of the Booker Prize panel comprising three authors who have either won or been nominated for the award. Joining Parker are acclaimed writer Roddy Doyle, literary critic and author Chris Power, and Booker longlisted authors Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ and Kiley Reid.

Roddy Doyle, an Irish novelist, has written 13 books, including his Booker Prize-winning title “Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha” and “The Commitments,” for which he also co-wrote the screenplay. He is the first past winner to lead the judging panel.

Adébáyọ̀ is known for her works “Stay with Me” and “A Spell of Good Things,” the latter of which was longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize.

Power has significant experience in literary judging and is known for his novel “A Lonely Man” and short story collection “Mothers,” as well as for co-hosting BBC Radio 4’s “Open Book.”

Kiley Reid’s debut novel “Such a Fun Age” received a longlisting for the 2020 Booker Prize. Her follow-up novel “Come and Get It” has been featured in several prestigious lists as one of the best books of 2024.