Sarah Paulson
Known for

Acting

Credits

106

Gender

Woman

Birthday

17 Dec 1974 (49)

Place of birth

Tampa, Florida, USA

Also known as
שרה פולסון
Сара Полсон
사라 폴슨
세라 폴슨
サラ・ポールソン
Sarah Catharine Paulson
莎拉·保罗森

Sarah Paulson

Biography

Sarah Catharine Paulson (born December 17, 1974) is an American actress. She began her acting career in New York City stage productions before starring in the short-lived television series American Gothic (1995–1996) and Jack & Jill (1999–2001). She later appeared in comedy films such as What Women Want (2000) and Down with Love (2003), and drama films such as Path to War (2002) and The Notorious Bettie Page (2005). From 2006 to 2007, she starred as Harriet Hayes in the NBC comedy-drama series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, for which she received her first Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2008, she starred as Ellen Dolan in the superhero noir film The Spirit. Paulson has appeared on Broadway in the plays The Glass Menagerie in 2005 and Collected Stories in 2010. She also starred in a number of independent films and had a leading role in the ABC comedy series Cupid (2009). She later starred in the independent drama film Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) and received Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for her portrayal of Nicolle Wallace in the HBO film Game Change (2012). She was featured as Mary Epps in the 2013 historical drama film 12 Years a Slave, as Abby Gerhard in the 2015 romantic drama film Carol, and as Toni Bradlee in the 2017 political drama film The Post, all of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. Her other films include Serenity (2005), New Year's Eve (2011), Mud (2012), Blue Jay (2016), Ocean's 8 (2018), Bird Box (2018), Glass (2019), and Run (2020). In 2011, Paulson began starring in the FX anthology series American Horror Story, playing different characters in many of the show's 10 seasons. For her performances in the series, she received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won two Critics' Choice Television Awards. In 2016, she portrayed real-life prosecutor Marcia Clark in the first season of the anthology series American Crime Story, subtitled The People v. O. J. Simpson, for which she garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award. In 2020, Paulson appeared in the FX limited series Mrs. America, and began starring as Nurse Mildred Ratched in the Netflix psychological thriller series Ratched. In 2021, she returned to American Crime Story to portray Linda Tripp in the third season of the show, subtitled Impeachment.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
All's Fair
Ethel
Talley's FollySally Talley
2024Mr. & Mrs. SmithTherapist
2024Hold Your BreathMargaret Bellum
2023Handsome PodcastSelf
Clybourne Park
I Am SybilConnie Wilbur
Pretty/HandsomeCorky Fromme
2022The BearCousin Michelle
2022Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration
2021Adele One Night OnlySelf
2021Madame X Presents: Madame Xtra Q&ASelf
2020RunMother / Diane
2020RatchedNurse Mildred Ratched
2020Mrs. AmericaAlice
2020Coastal ElitesClarissa Montgomery
2019GlassDr. Ellie Staple
2019AbominableDr. Zara (voice)
2019The GoldfinchXandra
2018Bird BoxJessica
2018Ocean's EightTammy
2018Ocean's Team 3.0Self
2018Reimagining The Met GalaSelf
2017The PostTony Bradlee
2017Rebel in the RyeDorothy Olding
2017FEUDGeraldine Page
2016American Crime StoryMarcia Clark
2016American Crime StoryLinda Tripp
2016Blue JayAmanda
2016ChelseaSelf
2015CarolAbby Gerhard
2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf
2015The RunnerKate Haber
2015Close Up with The Hollywood ReporterSelf
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonSelf
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf
2014Variety Studio: Actors on ActorsSelf
2014Off Camera with Sam JonesSelf
2014#twitterkillsSarah Pendersen
201312 Years a SlaveMary Epps
2013MudMary Lee
2013FairhavenKate
2012Game ChangeNicolle Wallace
2012The Time BeingSarah
2012BlueLavinia
2012Stars In ShortsWoman
2011American Horror StoryLana Winters
2011American Horror StoryCordelia Goode / Wilhemina Venable / Billie Dean Howard
2011American Horror StoryBillie Dean Howard
2011American Horror StoryBette Tattler / Dot Tattler
2011American Horror StorySally McKenna / Billie Dean Howard
2011American Horror StoryAudrey Tindall / Shelby Miller / Lana Winters
2011American Horror StoryAlly Mayfair-Richards / Susan Atkins
2011American Horror StoryTuberculosis Karen (Red Tide) / Mamie Eisenhower (Death Valley)
2011New Year's EveGrace Schwab
2011Martha Marcy May MarleneLucy
2011November ChristmasBeth Marks
2011After-School SpecialWoman
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2009CupidDr. Claire McCrae
2009Whose Dog Is It Anyway?Emma
2008The SpiritEllen Dolan
2007The Graham Norton ShowSelf
2006Griffin & PhoenixPeri
2006Studio 60 on the Sunset StripHarriet Hayes
2006DiggersJulie
2006A Christmas WeddingEmily
2005Grey's AnatomyYoung Ellis Grey
2005SerenityDr. Caron
2005The Notorious Bettie PageBunny Yeager
2005The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonSelf
2005SwimmersMerrill
2004Desperate HousewivesLydia Lindquist
2004DeadwoodAlice Isringhausen
2004The D.A.Lisa Patterson
2003Down with LoveVikki Hiller
2003Nip/TuckAgatha Ripp
2003The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf - Guest
2003Path to WarLuci Baines Johnson
2002BugEilleen
2002Leap of FaithFaith Wardwell
2000What Women WantAnnie
1999Family GuySarah Paulson / Marcia Clark / Costumed Woman (voice)
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAnne Gillette
1999The Other SisterHeather Tate
1999Held UpMary
1999Jack & JillElisa Cronkite
1998The Long Way HomeLeanne Bossert
1997LevitationAcey
1996Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1995American GothicMerlyn Temple
1995Friends at LastDiana - Age 21
1994Touched by an AngelZoe
1990Law & OrderMaggie Conner
1988LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1981Entertainment TonightSelf
1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Cameo (uncredited)
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
All's FairExecutive Producer
2021The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen ShamblinExecutive Producer
2020RatchedProducer
2016American Crime StoryExecutive Producer
2011American Horror StoryDirector
2011American Horror StoryExecutive Producer