Living in the shadow of Carrie Bradshaw sounds like a lot. Honestly, it sounds exhausting. But for Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick, it’s just Tuesday. Or more accurately, it’s just life in the West Village.
You’ve probably seen the paparazzi shots. The ones where Sarah Jessica Parker is walking two blonde girls to school in New York City, everyone decked out in mismatched patterns and sensible-but-chic footwear. It’s a vibe. But behind those grainy photos of a NYC commute is a teenager who is carving out a surprisingly normal existence despite having "Ferris Bueller" and the queen of HBO for parents.
Loretta—as she’s known to her inner circle—and her twin sister Tabitha have spent years being the "mysterious" Broderick daughters. They aren't on TikTok doing dances. They aren't trying to sell you a skincare line. They’re basically just living. And in 2026, as she navigates her junior year of high school, that’s actually the most interesting thing about her.
The Ohio Roots and a Complicated Start
It’s easy to forget that the birth of Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick was a massive national news story back in 2009. It wasn't just "celebrity has babies." It was a whole thing.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick were very open about their struggles to conceive a second time after their son, James Wilkie, was born. They turned to surrogacy, which at the time, still felt like "new" tabloid fodder. The girls were born in Martins Ferry, Ohio.
The drama was real.
There were reports of local law enforcement officials allegedly trying to sell information about the surrogate to the press. It was messy. It was invasive. But when June 22, 2009, finally rolled around, Marion and Tabitha arrived healthy. The names were a nod to SJP’s family history—Elwell and Hodge are old family names.
Why She Goes by Loretta
If you call her Marion, you might be the only one.
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Her mom has mentioned in several interviews that the family almost exclusively uses her middle name, Loretta. It’s one of those "celebrity kid" quirks that actually feels pretty grounded. It’s like having a secret identity that isn't really a secret.
A Tale of Two Personalities
You might think twins are a package deal. Not here.
Loretta and Tabitha are, by all accounts, total opposites. While they used to attend different schools—a move Tabitha reportedly pushed for to establish independence—they eventually converged for high school.
According to SJP, Loretta is the "checker-inner." She’s the one who needs that social connection, the one who is constantly making sure everyone is okay. Tabitha? She’s the one who can sit in a room and sew for four hours without saying a word.
Growing Up in the West Village
New York City is their backyard.
While other celebrity kids are whisked away in black SUVs with tinted windows, the Broderick kids have always been visible. They walk. They take the subway. They go to the local bodega.
There’s this famous story about their clothes. SJP famously didn't buy her kids new clothes for years, opting for hand-me-downs or vintage finds. It’s a very "un-Hollywood" way to grow up. Loretta has been spotted on red carpets wearing her mom’s old shoes—specifically from the SJP Collection—but her day-to-day style is much more "NYC teenager" than "Manhattan socialite."
The Junior Year Syllabus
In late 2025, Sarah Jessica Parker shared that she was actually reading along with her daughters' high school syllabus.
Loretta and her sister are currently juniors. That means they’re neck-deep in the "hard" years. We’re talking:
- Russian politics and the history of Putin.
- Classic English literature (Jane Austen's Persuasion was on the list).
- Pre-calculus and the looming threat of the SATs.
It’s refreshing to hear a celebrity talk about their kid’s homework instead of their kid’s "brand."
Red Carpet Rareties
We don't see Loretta often. When we do, it’s usually for a Broadway opening.
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In April 2025, the family showed up for the opening of Smash on Broadway. Loretta looked like a literal pro. She wore a cream jacket over a black dress, looking every bit the sophisticated New Yorker.
But don't expect her to jump into the family business just yet.
Matthew Broderick has joked that at least one of his daughters is "repelled" by the idea of acting. They’ve seen the long hours. They’ve seen the paparazzi. They’ve seen the work that goes into a Broadway run like Plaza Suite. For Loretta, the focus seems to be on finishing high school and maybe, just maybe, getting through her Reading List without her mom spoiling the ending of Persuasion.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick is that she’s a "mini-me" of her mother.
Sure, they share a closet. And yeah, they both have that effortless New York cool. But Loretta is her own person. She’s a student, a sister, and a girl who grew up in the middle of one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world while somehow staying out of the headlines.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Celebrity Careers
If you're watching how the next generation of "nepo babies" (though that term feels a bit harsh here) navigates the world, look at the Broderick-Parker model.
- Privacy is a choice: You can be famous and still keep your kids' lives relatively quiet. It requires discipline and a lack of ego.
- Education over Exposure: Prioritizing a rigorous school syllabus over a social media presence often leads to a more well-rounded adult.
- Individuality matters: Even as a twin, Loretta has been encouraged to have her own name, her own school (for a time), and her own interests.
Loretta Broderick is proof that you can grow up in the spotlight without being blinded by it. As she moves toward graduation in 2027, it’ll be interesting to see if she chooses the stage, the classroom, or something else entirely. Whatever it is, she’ll probably be wearing great shoes when she does it.