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Sarah Paulson

Birth Place: Tampa, FL, USA

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BIO

Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner SARAH PAULSON last appeared onstage in New York in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Talley’s Folly in spring 2013. Other stage appearances include the Broadway productions of Collected Stories, opposite Linda Lavin, and The Glass Menagerie alongside Jessica Lange; the Mark Taper Forum production of The Cherry Orchard opposite Alfred Molina and Annette Bening; and off-Broadway in Tracy Letts’ critically acclaimed Killer Joe. Paulson received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her portrayal of attorney Marcia Clark in FX’s critically acclaimed miniseries “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” Paulson also received a Golden Globe® Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics’ Choice Award and a Television Critics Association Award for this role. Her many additional TV credits include her performance as Linda Tripp in FX’s “Impeachment: American Crime Story” (Emmy nomination, also Executive Producer); the title role in the Netflix series, “Ratched” (also Executive Producer), which debuted at number one across 50 countries worldwide and earned Paulson a Golden Globe® nomination; the FX on Hulu Emmy-nominated limited series, “Mrs. America,” opposite Cate Blanchett; Aaron Sorkin's “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (Golden Globe nomination); HBO’s “Coastal Elites” and “Game Change” (Emmy and Golden Globe nominations); ten installments of Ryan’s Murphy’s award-winning television series “American Horror Story,” where she also made her directorial debut with the 78-minute crossover episode, “Return to Murder House.” Paulson has received five Emmy® nominations for her roles in the franchise, as well as two Critics’ Choice Awards for her roles in the anthology series. Paulson’s many film credits include Warner Bros.’ Ocean’s 8; Todd Haynes’ critically acclaimed Carol alongside Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, which received an Academy Award® for Best Picture. She has also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s The Post opposite Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep; Aneesh Chaganty’s Run for Hulu; M. Night Shyamalan's thriller Glass for Universal; Netflix’s Bird Box opposite Sandra Bullock; DreamWorks Animation’s Abominable. Other film credits include Martha Marcy May Marlene; Down with Love; What Women Want, The Other Sister. Upcoming, she will executive produce and star in Searchlight’s horror thriller, Dust; will appear in Bruce Norris’ film adaptation of his Pulitzer, Tony, and Olivier award-winning play, Clybourne Park, directed by Pam MacKinnon; and in Bad Robot’s series adaptation of Glennon Doyle’s memoir, “Untamed.”

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Second Stage Original Broadway Production, 2023
Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette

[Off-Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company Production, 2013
Sally Talley

[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Production, 2010
Lisa Morrison

[Off-Broadway]
MCC Theater Production, 2009
Carrie Ann

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 2008
Meg Magrath

Meg Magrath

[Off-Broadway]
2005
Harriet

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2005
The Daughter

[Off-Broadway]
1998
Dottie Smith

[Off-Broadway]
1994
Vesta Jackson


Movies

Levitation
[ 1997 ] Acey Rawlin
The Other Sister
[ 1999 ] Heather
Held Up
[ 1999 ] Mary
What Women Want
[ 2000 ] Annie
Bug
[ 2002 ] Eilleen
Down with Love
[ 2003 ] Vikki Hiller
The Notorious Bettie Page
[ 2005 ] Bunny Yeager
Serenity
[ 2005 ] Dr. Caron
Swimmers
[ 2005 ] Merrill
Diggers
[ 2006 ] Julie
Griffin & Phoenix
[ 2006 ] Peri
The Spirit
[ 2008 ] Ellen
Martha Marcy May Marlene
[ 2011 ] Lucy
Fairhaven
[ 2012 ] Kate
Mud
[ 2012 ] Mary Lee
The Time Being
[ 2012 ] Sarah
12 Years a Slave
[ 2013 ] Mistress Epps
Carol
[ 2015 ] Abby Gerhard
The Runner
[ 2015 ] Kate Haber
Blue Jay
[ 2016 ] Amanda
Rebel in the Rye
[ 2017 ] Dorothy Olding
The Post
[ 2017 ] Tony Bradlee
Bird Box
[ 2018 ] Jessica
Ocean's Eight
[ 2018 ] Tammy
Glass
[ 2019 ] Dr. Ellie Staple
Abominable
[ 2019 ] Dr. Zara
The Goldfinch
[ 2019 ] Xandra
Run
[ 2020 ] Mother, Diane

TV Shows

American Crime Story
Linda Tripp, Marcia Clark
American Gothic
Merlyn Temple
American Horror Story
Lana Winters, Bette Tattler, Dot Tattler
Desperate Housewives
Lydia Lindquist
Jack & Jill
Elisa Cronkite
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Harriet Hayes

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate


winner
Drama League Awards - 2024 - Distinguished Performance

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate


winner
Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Videos

News


Video: Kelli O'Hara Sings 'Both Sides Now' By Joni Mitchell With Her Daughter

Kelli O'Hara has shared a moving rendition of 'Both Sides Now' by Joni Mitchell with her daughter. O'Hara also shared a moving statement about being inspired by music when she does not know what to write. Watch the video!
Annaleigh Ashford & Joe Tapper Welcome Baby Girl

Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford and husband Joe Tapper have welcomed their second child, a baby girl! Learn more about the happy news!
Photos: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, & More Attend Academy Museum Gala

On Saturday, October 19, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures held its fourth annual gala. The celebratory evening was a star-studded affair with Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Rita Moreno, Colman Domingo, Ariana DeBose, and more in attendance. Take a look at photos from the evening!
Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Manor Club Theatre Is No Shrinking Violet

For this perennially popular, bittersweet stage piece, plot really isn’t the point any more than it is on the daytime TV soaps.  It’s all about relationships
CRIMES OF THE HEART Will Be Performed By Avon Players

Avon Players’ season will continue with a bittersweet story of three women coming home and reconciling the trajectory of their messy lives with their small-town upbringing in Crimes of the Heart, running November 8-23.
Video: Sarah Paulson Shares Personal Significance of Tony Award Win

Sarah Paulson recently visited The Kelly Clarkson Show and, on the show, shared the personal significance of winning the Tony Award earlier this year for her performance in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Appropriate. 
Interview: Cheyenne Jackson Performs SIGNS OF LIFE at The Hobby Center

I mean, my influences growing up? I went through a phase of everything was jazz! And it had to be old-school jazz! When I was about twelve or thirteen, I went to a yard sale. I found this CD. It was actually a tape. Billie Holiday, Lena Horn, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald. I'd never heard of any of them, and I just poured over it and studied the nuances of their voices.
Video: Sarah Paulson Recalls Tony Award Mix-Up on THE TONIGHT SHOW

On Tuesday, Sarah Paulson visited The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss her new thriller film, Hold Your Breath. On the show, she also relayed a story about an incident with the Tony Award she won earlier this year for her performance in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Appropriate.
Broadway Streaming Guide: Halloween 2024- Where to Watch SWEENEY TODD, MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION & More

From animated musicals like The Nightmare Before Christmas to spine-chilling new shows featuring Tony Award-winning performers and Broadway legends, there is plenty to stream to get you in the Halloween mood. Check out our complete guide to what scary content Broadway fans should be streaming this season here!
Photos: Inside the 76th Emmy Awards With Jeremy Allen White, Elizabeth Debicki & More

Go inside last night's 76th Emmy Awards, hosted by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy. Check out photos from the red carpet with Selena Gomez, Billy Crystal, Jonathan Bailey, Alan Cumming, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and more here!
How Did Broadway Do at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards?

At The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, numerous Broadway performers and creatives were nominated for awards for their work in television- from acting accolades to recognition for excellence in writing. Several Broadway alums took home awards including Alex Edelman, Billy Crudup, and Jean Smart. Take a look at the notable winners and nominees here!
Video: HOLD YOUR BREATH Trailer With Sarah Paulson and Annaleigh Ashford

Searchlight Pictures has unveiled the trailer for Hold Your Breath, the upcoming thriller starring Tony Award winner Sarah Paulson. Watch the trailer now!
Jim Caruso's Cast Party Returns to Los Angeles in November

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party will return to the West Coast for one very special night, Wednesday, November 6 at 8:30.  The “extreme open mic” will take place at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.
Shaina Taub Will Host Broadway for Harris Community Launch

Shaina Taub, creator and star of Broadway’s Tony-winning Suffs, will host the Broadway for Harris Community Launch Call tonight, Monday, August 26 from 6:00-7:00pm ET. The call will take place over Zoom and is open to the public.
70+ Broadway Stars Unite in Support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

New York’s theater community is organizing to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election. Broadway for Harris is a volunteer coalition of industry professionals and theater enthusiasts united to elect Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and down ballot Democratic candidates this November.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld August 16, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 16, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Photos: Robert Downey, Jr., Sarah Paulson, and More Visit OH, MARY!

The new Broadway play Oh, Mary! has recently been visited by several celebrity guests, among them including Robert Downey, Jr., Melissa McCarthy, Sarah Paulson, Amy Adams, and more. Check out photos from backstage here!
Photos: First Look at Sarah Paulson in Upcoming Thriller HOLD YOUR BREATH

Searchlight Pictures has unveiled new photos and announced the release date for Hold Your Breath, the upcoming thriller starring Tony Award winner Sarah Paulson. The movie also stars Amiah Miller, Alona Jane Robbins, Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford, Ebon Moss-Backrach, and Bill Heck. Take a look at the new photos here!
Sarah Paulson Joins Cast of Ryan Murphy Legal Series ALL'S FAIR

Tony Award winner Paulson has been confirmed to appear in the ensemble of a new legal series from Ryan Murphy. She will star alongside Niecy Nash, Teyana Taylor, and Naomi Watts.
2024 Emmy Nominations- See the Full List

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tony Hale will reveal the 76th Primetime Emmy Award nominations from the historic El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Nominees include Only Murders in the Building, The Gilded Age, The Morning Show, The Crown, and more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Sarah Paulson been in?

Sarah Paulson has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.

How many West End shows has Sarah Paulson been in?

Sarah Paulson has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Sarah Paulson been nominated for?

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Appropriate, Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Appropriate, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Appropriate and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Appropriate.

What awards has Sarah Paulson won?

Sarah Paulson has won the following awards: Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Appropriate; Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Appropriate; and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Appropriate.

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