All The Reasons We Love Sarah Paulson
It has become quite evident that actress Sarah Paulson and the word ‘iconic’ belong in the same sentence. Paulson has starred in some of our favorite movies and television shows, including American Gothic, Nip/Tuck, What Women Want, Down With Love, 12 Years a Slave, The Post, Ocean’s 8, American Horror Story, and more.
From her activism to her stints on Broadway to her much-appreciated carefree attitude on her relationship with actress Holland Taylor, it is impossible to not adore her – on and off-screen. Let’s share all the reasons why we absolutely love Sarah Paulson!
She’s Persistent!
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Sarah Paulson’s rise to fame was rather challenging. After starting her acting career straight out of high school, she labored for years before getting the recognition she justifiably so has now. While she may have landed roles on numerous television shows we all know and love, it was her gig on American Horror Story that made her a household name.
After receiving six Emmy nominations, Paulson finally won her first award in 2016 for her role as Marcia Clark on The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
She Gives Credit Where It Is Due
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Sarah Paulson is pretty close with the woman she portrayed on The People vs. O.J. Simpson. When Sarah won her Emmy, she dedicated a large portion of her acceptance speech to Marcia Clark.
During her heartfelt speech, Paulson said: “The responsibility of playing a real person is an enormous one. The more I learned about the real Marcia Clark, not the two-dimensional cardboard cutout I saw on the news, but the complicated, whip-smart, giant-hearted mother of two who woke up every day, put both feet on the floor and dedicated herself to righting an unconscionable wrong.” The actresse added, “The more I had to recognize that I, along with the rest of the world, had been superficial and careless in my judgment. I’m proud to be able to stand here today in front of everyone and tell you I’m sorry.”
She’s Down To Earth With A Great Outlook
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In an interview with GQ, Sarah Paulson revealed that she is grateful for the struggles she experienced early on in her acting career. “If my career had turned out like the fantasy I had of what it was going to be, it would never have made me happy. But I couldn’t have known that until it didn’t happen. I found a success that is so much bigger and deeper and better, and it’s because it happened later,” she shared.
When asked about her true idea of success, she stated that to her, success is being able to take some time for yourself so you don’t burn out. Wise words.
Although she’s a celeb, Paulson still gets starstruck from time to time.
She’s A Fan Girl Just Like Us
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Before Lady Gaga joined the cast of American Horror Story, Sarah Paulson made it her mission to be Gaga’s best friend. Who wouldn’t, though?
Her other major celebrity obsession, Emma Thompson, is quite the hardcore love affair we all may have experienced with Britney or Beyoncé. “If Emma Thompson goes to the Emmys you’re going to find a story somewhere about how I stalked her. It’s going to be embarrassing for me, I’m telling you. I heard she’s quite nice but I just don’t know if she’ll be quite nice if I attach myself to her ankle and don’t let go,” Paulson told Deadline.
Her Twitter Game Is Goals!
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If you’re looking for some quality, #relatable entertainment, look no further than @MsSarahPaulson on Twitter. Her bio itself reads “Always Hungry” so you know she’s the real deal.
From sharing sweet tweets with girlfriend Holland Taylor to her musings on Mercury being in retrograde, there’s always something to retweet! Plus, who can’t relate to her love of fast food that she so openly displays for us followers? It isn’t all food and fun though, as she is known to give her take on current events and political issues.
She’s Super Honest About The Behind-The-Scenes Stuff
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You know how you always want your favorites to discuss the shows they’re on a little further but they seem hesitant to do so? Sarah Paulson will tell it like it is!
Paulson was frank about her annoyance at always being asked about her head after she played conjoined twins on American Horror Story: Freak Show. She also opened up about the challenges of filming American Horror Story: Hotel and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story at the same time, being that that makeup artists had a hard time removing all the track marks and bruises she had for her character Sally on AHS in order to transform her into lawyer Marcia Clark. That’s a lot of transformations!
When it comes to fashion, Sarah Paulson slays.
Her Red Carpet Style Is Always On Point
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Have you seen this woman walk the red carpet?! How on Earth does she make everything look so flawless? From her elegant Emmy moments to her Met Gala masterpiece, we are pretty sure there is nothing Ms. Sarah Paulson cannot pull off!
From being named Best Dressed at award shows from multiple publications, Paulson is always delivering those fun fashion-forward moments we all anticipate!
Her Relationship With Holland Taylor Is Quite Adorable
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Sarah Paulson is not shy about her relationship with Holland Taylor. Paulson, 43, and Taylor, 75, were first reported to be dating back in 2015 and since then, they have been happily open about their relationship in the press and social media.
Taylor has been pretty private throughout her lengthy career but has chosen to be open about Paulson. After winning her first Emmy, Paulson ended her speech with a sweet shout-out to Holland, finishing off by saying, “Holland Taylor, I love you. Thank you.”
Another reason to love her? She binge watches Netflix just like us.
Like Us, She’s An Avid Binge-Watcher
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Who doesn’t like to binge-watch their favorites when everything we’ve ever wanted is laid out in front of us for as many hours as we want? Sarah has a few favorites of her own, including Stranger Things, House of Cards, and Game of Thrones.
When The Wrap asked her what show she loves to binge-watch, her immediate answer was Orange Is the New Black. “I watched maybe six of them in one sitting. And then I think I gave myself a four-hour break and maybe grabbed myself a sustaining meal, and then I went back and finished.” Relatable!
Her Career Is Very Diverse
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Sarah Paulson doesn’t really have a pattern to the type of roles we will most likely see her in, thus further setting her up for success! Before American Horror Story, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
She is no stranger to the stage either. She’s landed major roles on Broadway, including in The Glass Menagerie in 2005 and Collected Stories in 2010. With achievements on both the small screen and big screen, Paulson is up for anything and we can’t wait to see what she takes on next!
She’s a Working Girl’s Inspiration
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When it comes to juggling multiple jobs, Sarah Paulson is no stranger to the hustle. The actress has been known to film two shows simultaneously, which may make us tired just thinking about it, but at the end of the day, it builds character…no pun intended.
Paulson recently filmed both American Horry Story and American Crime Story concurrently, showing women everywhere that the hustle is always worth it in the end.
She Takes Her Characters Seriously
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While filming 12 Years a Slave, Sarah and Lupita Nyong’o didn’t speak to one another due to the heaviness of their characters and the scenes they depicted. The two later became friends but only exchanged a silent nod during filming.
Director Steve McQueen also forbade her from apologizing for her character’s atrocities as she depicted a slave owner. Paulson has been known to take on her characters while allowing herself to feel what they may have gone through whether fictional or not.
She Doesn’t Care What People Think
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When news broke that Sarah Paulson was dating 75-year-old Holland Taylor, Paulson was very open and happy to share the excitement of her new love. Of course, with any open relationship in the media, things are bound to get tricky…but not for Sarah. She really doesn’t care what people think of her or her relationship and if that isn’t #lifegoals, we don’t know what is!
Paulson has made it perfectly clear in interviews that she doesn’t get or care why people think her relationship with Taylor is “odd” or “fascinating.”
She Is Still Human
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The pressures of being in the public eye can be stressful. In fact, just being a human being is stressful, and Sarah Paulson can relate.
In an interview with offCamera, Paulson shared her thoughts on self-worth and knowing that you are valuable even if you don’t have your dream job. “Being a person is not for the faint of heart,” she shared. “It’s hard.” So what does she think the key to self-worth truly is? Being able to look in the mirror, despite all the rejection you may have to go through, and still liking what you see.
She’s A Warrior
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When Sarah Paulson was 25, she was diagnosed with melanoma on her back. The growth was later removed before the cancer could spread.
At the time, Paulson was headed to Puerto Rico for a vacation when her then-fiancé asked her to see a dermatologist about a funny-looking mole on her back. It was as small as a pencil eraser and densely black “like someone used a black Sharpie” pen, she shared. Her dermatologist performed a biopsy, and sure enough, the diagnosis was melanoma. “I was 25 years old. Who thought it could happen to me?” Paulson shared.
She’s Open About Her Sexuality
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If there ever was a time to have someone to look up to about issues such as sexuality, this is it. Sarah Paulson has been very open about her sexuality, further inspiring others to speak freely about their own sexuality as well.
In a 2013 interview referring to her sexuality, Paulson stated that “the situation is fluid for me.” Prior to her relationship with actress Cherry Jones from 2004 to 2009, Paulson had only dated men, including playwright Tracy Letts. Now, as we all know, she is in a relationship with Holland Taylor.
She’s An Activist
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There’s no way you can hold this woman down, and we love her all the more for it! Paulson is no stranger to speaking up on current events and sharing her opinions on the political landscape, but she also takes a stand on something this entire world feels deeply about: gun violence.
In June 2016, the Human Rights Campaign released a video in tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. In the video, Paulson and others told the stories of the people killed there and how their legacies will live on.
She’s A NYC Girl At Heart
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Whether you live in New York City or have been dying to live there your entire life, Sarah Paulson made that dream come true for herself.
Born in Tampa, Florida in 1974, Paulson lived in South Tampa until she was five when her parents divorced. She then spent some time in Maine before moving to New York City with her mother while visiting her father in Florida during the summer. Paulson lived in Queens and Gramercy Park before settling in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
She’s A Strong Women’s Advocate
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It’s no secret that women in any industry are always pitted against one another while the patriarchy continues in a sick, never-ending cycle. Like us, Sarah Paulson is sick of it and wants to make a change!
In a guest column with The Hollywood Reporter, Sarah shared her thoughts on why women work better together. “I was raised with this idea that women don’t work well together — not by my parents, but environmentally, societally and culturally. Female relationships are often depicted on film as contentious and somehow that narrative penetrated my own way of thinking. The only way to get a seat at the table is by elbowing other women out of the way.”
She’s The Person We All Aspire To Be
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There are so many celebrities whom we may admire, but no one compares to the genuine spirit of Sarah Paulson. From being open about her sexuality to not caring what others think to being an advocate for women and an activist on the issues that we take to heart, there’s so much to be inspired by.
With an unbeatable elegance and a way with words we try so hard to master, Sarah Paulson is the heroine we have been waiting for in this crazy world. Displaying everything we aspire to be, there truly is no one else like Sarah Paulson.
