Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson (born December 17, 1974, in Tampa, Florida) is an American screen and stage actress celebrated for her range across comedy, drama, and prestige television. She first built her craft in New York theater before breaking through on TV in the mid-1990s with American Gothic, followed by a prominent run on Jack & Jill.

In film, Paulson moved fluidly between studio projects and character-driven stories, appearing in crowd-pleasers like What Women Want (as Annie) and Down with Love (as Vikki Hiller), while also taking on darker material in titles such as Bug (as Eileen) and The Spirit (as Ellen Dolan). Her credits also include The Notorious Bettie Page (as Bunny Yeager) and seasonal favorites like A Christmas Wedding (as Emily).

Paulson’s profile rose further through acclaimed television work, earning major award attention for roles in series including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the long-running FX anthology American Horror Story, and American Crime Story, where her portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Clark became a defining career moment. She has continued to headline high-profile limited series and thrillers, while returning regularly to the stage.