Sarah Paulson

Name:
Sarah Paulson
Real name:
Sarah Catharine Paulson
Who is:
Birth date:
(50 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height:
5'7 ft ()
Weight:
121 lb (55 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Sarah Paulson's biography

Sarah Paulson is a master of transformation and acclaimed method actress, best known for her captivating work in the anthology horror series American Horror Story. While Sarah isn't always cast in leading roles, her execution is consistently flawless and believable, showcasing her extraordinary acting talent and dedication. Net worth: $12 million.
Pictured: Sarah Paulson
Pictured: Sarah Paulson

Childhood

Sarah Catharine Paulson was born on December 17, 1975, in Florida. She spent her early childhood in Tampa, a major city near the Gulf of Mexico. Her parents, Catharine Gordon and Douglas Paulson, divorced when Sarah was only five. They agreed on shared custody, so Sarah moved to New York with her younger sister and mother, while her dad and older sister remained in Tampa.
Young Sarah Paulson
Young Sarah Paulson
The future actress's childhood was somewhat unstable, but ultimately happy. After settling in Brooklyn, Sarah's mother struggled to find steady work, leaving the family economically disadvantaged and under social worker supervision. Sarah was often the one to babysit her sister after school. The girls spent their summer holidays in Tampa with their father and older sister, whom they missed terribly.

Sarah dreamed of becoming an actress from an early age, so naturally she joined her school theater program. In 1989, she earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, alma mater to brilliant actors including Al Pacino and the legendary Liza Minnelli. While still a LaGuardia student, Sarah began landing roles in various productions to hone her acting skills. Though she didn't land a Broadway role, Paulson worked as an understudy at one of the theaters.
Young Sarah Paulson
Young Sarah Paulson
After graduating, the young actress decided to continue her education and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she met Pedro Pascal, one of her now long-time good friends.

The beginning of the career

In early 1995, the 20-year-old actress made her television debut on Law & Order. That spring, she appeared in the Canadian-American television drama Friends, at Last, starring Kathleen Turner.
Young Sarah Paulson
Young Sarah Paulson
The horror series American Gothic portrayed the devil, played by Gary Cole, as not such a bad guy, while Sarah's Merlyn gave audiences serious chills. Fans unanimously agreed that Sarah was among the cast's standouts, perfectly capturing her character's unique blend of angelic beauty and pure wickedness.
A snapshot from American Gothic
A snapshot from American Gothic
From 1999 to 2003, Sarah appeared in various movies and TV series. Her most notable work during this period includes the romantic fantasy comedy-drama What Women Want, where she played Mel Gibson's secretary, and the romantic comedy-drama Down with Love, co-starring Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger.

Best roles

Sarah Paulson wasn't often offered leading roles, but she had a knack for turning even supporting characters into the most memorable and charismatic ones. Critics praise her ability to transform herself into anyone she wants as well as her unfailing work ethic.
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson
In the stylish 2005 biographical drama The Notorious Bettie Page, Paulson played photographer and pin-up model Bunny Yeager, who had a significant impact on Bettie's life (portrayed by Gretchen Mol). The film was directed by Mary Harron, the visionary behind American Psycho and I Shot Andy Warhol, and starred Norman Reedus and Lily Taylor.
A snapshot from The Notorious Bettie Page
A snapshot from The Notorious Bettie Page
According to Zoomboola.com, in 2006, Paulson had a leading role in a comedy-drama A Christmas Wedding, where she portrayed a bride, running late for her own wedding, alongside Dean Cain and Eric Mabius.

But it wasn't until Sarah appeared in the thriller drama Martha Marcy May Marlene alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Christopher Abbott, plus the TV series Pretty/Handsome with Joseph Fiennes, that her career really took off.
Trailer for Martha Marcy May Marlene
The horror anthology series American Horror Story earned Paulson Emmy and Saturn nominations along with numerous other prestigious awards. Despite sharing the screen with powerhouses like Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates, Sarah managed to steal the show and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her incredible acting range and magnetic charm.

Sarah is the only actress who has appeared in every single American Horror Story season. Her most standout performances came in season 2's American Horror Story: Asylum, where she played a fearless journalist determined to expose the asylum's dark secrets, and American Horror Story: Freak Show, where she took on the challenging dual role of conjoined twins Bette and Dot.
Sarah is the only actress, who appeared in all the American Horror Story seasons
Sarah is the only actress, who appeared in all the American Horror Story seasons
While filming the series, she juggled multiple other projects, cementing her reputation as one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses.

In 2012, Paulson joined the cast of political drama Game Change and earned widespread critical acclaim for her performance, scoring both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Jamey Sheridan and Ed Harris also appeared in the film.
Actress Sarah Paulson
Actress Sarah Paulson
In the film adaptation of the slave memoir 12 Years a Slave, Sarah played the wife of ruthless plantation owner Edwin Epps, portrayed by Michael Fassbender. The role of the main protagonist, Solomon, went to Chiwetel Ejiofor. The biographical period drama boasted a star-studded cast, including Paul Dano, Brad Pitt and Benedict Cumberbatch.
A snapshot from 12 Years a Slave
A snapshot from 12 Years a Slave
In 2015, Paulson starred in political drama The Runner. The film starred Nicolas Cage, who portrayed an idealistic politician, while Sarah played his assistant counselor.
A snapshot from The Runner
A snapshot from The Runner
In 2016's romantic drama Blue Jay, Sarah got to work alongside Mark Duplass. The plot of the film revolves around an ex-couple of high-school sweethearts, sitting in a coffee shop and reminiscing about their younger years in an atmosphere filled with honesty and melancholy.

In the film about cult writer J.D. Salinger, who led a reclusive lifestyle, Paulson played a literary agent who supported the writer throughout his life. The biographical drama Rebel in the Rye received mixed critic and viewer reviews, as many felt that the brilliant author's life, like his books, shouldn't be adapted for Hollywood. Salinger was portrayed by Nicholas Hoult while Kevin Spacey portrayed his mentor.
Rebel in the Rye: Sarah Paulson with Nicholas Hoult
Rebel in the Rye: Sarah Paulson with Nicholas Hoult
The historical political thriller The Post, which came out in 2017, tells a true story of the first female publisher of The Washington Post, who tried to publish classified documents about the Vietnam War, which changed the course of history. Paulson got a chance to work with the legendary Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
Ocean's 8 – trailer
Sarah was part of the brilliant ensemble cast in heist comedy Ocean's 8, alongside Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter. This fun, beautifully styled film was a true gift for fans of these amazing actresses.

In 2018, the fan-favorite appeared in a post-apocalyptic thriller Bird Box alongside Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich and despite being well-received by viewers, the film was panned by critics.
Trailer for Bird Box

Sarah Paulson's personal life

While studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Sarah befriended a fellow actor, Pedro Pascal. Despite ongoing rumors about their relationship, Sarah and Pedro maintain they're nothing more than close friends.
Sarah Paulson and Pedro Pascal
Sarah Paulson and Pedro Pascal
In the 1990s, Paulson dated several men, including renowned playwright Tracy Letts, who even proposed to her. However, the actress broke off the engagement shortly after without explaining why.
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson
As it turns out, Sarah always knew she was bisexual and even tried to suppress that side of herself, but couldn't deny her true nature once she met Cherry Jones, an actress famous for her roles in The Village and Knight of Cups. They dated for five years.
Cherry Jones with Sarah Paulson
Cherry Jones with Sarah Paulson
Later, Sarah met her next girlfriend, actress Holland Taylor, who like Cherry was also older. In a recent candid interview, Sarah had some harsh words for anyone shaming her about dating women considerably older than herself. The actress said she was incredibly happy with the best human in the world and couldn't care less about the age difference or anyone who had a problem with it.
Sarah Paulson with Holland Taylor
Sarah Paulson with Holland Taylor
In another interview, Sarah opened up a bit more and explained her choice. When she was young, her mother barely paid attention to her and was always busy with her younger sister and work, so Sarah decided not to have children herself. That's why she's primarily attracted to older women, who have much more life experience and can offer her everything she missed as a child.

Sarah Paulson today

By early 2019, post-production on the superhero thriller Glass was finally complete, and the film was considered the season's main premiere. Writer, producer, and director M. Night Shyamalan brought together the main characters from his previous films Unbreakable and Split: Mr. Glass is portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Crumb and all his 24 personalities, masterfully portrayed by the incredible James McAvoy and the Overseer a.k.a Unbreakable, played by Bruce Willis. Sarah Paulson has joined this interesting cast to play Dr. Ellie Staple, who tries to cure all of them.
Sarah is set to be a part of the upcoming adaptation of the novel The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which is scheduled to be released in 2019. The film also stars Ansel Elgort, Jeffrey Wright, and Nicole Kidman.

Sarah Paulson: latest news and articles

  • Seriously, did this actress star in Ocean`s Eight? Oh my God! Awesome movie!
    2021-04-18 22:10:19
  • In awe of «Rebel in the Rye» starring Sarah based on the novel by Salinger. I wish her every success in the film industry.
    2021-04-18 16:58:18
  • For me, Paulson is a very charismatic and charming talented actress. I love her game anywhere, any of her appearance in the film is a delight!
    2021-03-29 20:44:30
  • «The Notorious Bettie Page»! God, what a good movie with Paulson.. Recommend
    2021-03-27 13:19:40
  • What a beauty Sarah Paulson! She has such a noble aristocratic appearance
    2021-03-26 16:10:55
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