Emmy®, Golden Globe® and SAG®nominated actress, Sarah Paulson has built an impressive list of credits in film, television and on stage.
For her gripping work on the series’ fifth installment, American Horror Story: Hotel, Paulson received a Critics’ Choice® nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series, and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Notably, this is Paulson’s fourth consecutive Emmy nomination for her role in the franchise. Last year, she was seen in American Horror Story: Freak Show where she starred as “Bette” and “Dot Tattler,” conjoined twins, who are part of a 1950s Freak Show in Jupiter, Florida. For her performance, she was nominated for an Emmy and received a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series. Prior to that, Paulson’s portrayal of “Cordelia Foxx” in American Horror Story: Coven earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. She previously starred as “Lana Winters” in the second installment, American Horror Story: Asylum, where she received a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries, as well as an Emmy nomination for her work.
Paulson most recently appeared in the critically-acclaimed mini-series, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on FX. The series, recently nominated for an Emmy Award and Television Critics Association Award, takes a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers and explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court. Paulson earned rave reviews for her portrayal as attorney Marcia Clark and received an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie as well as a Television Critics Association nomination in the category of Individual Achievement in Drama. Paulson received her first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie for HBO’s critically acclaimed telefilm Game Change. Directed by Jay Roach, the film follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Palin as his running mate, to their ultimate defeat in the general election. Paulson co-stars with Ed Harris, Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson, playing McCain’s (Harris) senior campaign advisor Nicolle Wallace.
In film, Paulson will next be seen in Blue Jay, starring opposite Mark Duplass. The film will have its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. She also recently wrapped production on Danny Strong’s highly anticipated film, Rebel in the Rye. This film is the story of the life and mind of the legendary and secretive author J.D. Salinger, who gained worldwide fame with the publication of his novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Paulson will play “Dorothy Olding,” the agent that believed in young Jerry Salinger from his earliest short stories and was fiercely loyal to him throughout his entire career. Most recently, Paulson co-starred in Todd Haynes’ critically acclaimed Carol, alongside Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. The film, released by The Weinstein Company, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and later went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, Drama, and a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Picture.
In 2013, Paulson was seen in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, which received an Academy Award® for Best Picture. In the film, Paulson appears alongside Michael Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o as “Mistress Epps” in the adaptation of Solomon Northrup’s book based on his own life story. For her performance, Paulson earned a SAG Award nomination as part of the film’s ensemble cast. That same year, Paulson was also seen alongside Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey in Jeff Nichols’ film Mud. The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Paulson received the Robert Altman Award alongside her cast at the Film Independent Spirit Awards for her performance as part of the ensemble. She previously starred in the critically acclaimed Fox Searchlight independent feature, Martha Marcy May Marlene, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film, nominated for a Gotham Award™ for Best Ensemble Cast, was written and directed by Sean Durkin and also stars Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes and Hugh Dancy.
Paulson received her first Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, in which she starred opposite Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford and Steven Weber. Her additional major television credits also include the lead role on the drama Leap of Faith, Deadwood, Path to War opposite Alec Baldwin and Donald Sutherland, Jack and Jill, Cupid opposite Bobby Cannavale and the series American Gothic with Gary Cole.
Paulson made her return to the stage in 2013 in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s new production of Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Talley’s Folly, directed by Michael Wilson. She previously starred on Broadway in the two-hander Collected Stories opposite Linda Lavin, and as “Laura Wingfield” in the revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, alongside Jessica Lange. On stage she also appeared opposite Alfred Molina and Annette Bening in Cherry Orchard, as well as in Tracy Letts’ critically-acclaimed Killer Joe opposite Scott Glenn and Amanda Plummer.
