American film, television, and stage actress and director Sarah Paulson 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 also acted with Jack Lemmon (1998) in The Long Way Home. Her other television work includes Deadwood (2005), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), and Cupid (2009). In 2011, Paulson began starring in the FX anthology series American Horror Story, playing various characters over many of the show's 12 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 People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, for which she earned a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2020, Paulson appeared in the FX miniseries 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 series, subtitled Impeachment.
Paulson's film roles include the romantic comedies What Women Want (2000) and Down with Love (2003), and the dramas Path to War (2002) and The Notorious Bettie Page (2005). In 2008, she starred as Ellen Dolan in the superhero noir film The Spirit. She starred as Lucy in the independent drama film Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Nicolle Wallace in the political drama film Game Change (2012), Mary Epps in the historical drama film 12 Years a Slave (2013), Abby Gerhard in the romantic drama film Carol (2015), Toni Bradlee in the political drama film The Post (2017), Tammy in the heist comedy film Ocean's 8 (2018), Jessica Hayes in the post-apocalyptic thriller film Bird Box (2018), Ellie Staple in the superhero film Glass (2019), and Diane Sherman in the psychological thriller film Run (2020).
Film
Year Title Role Notes 1997 Levitation Acey Rawlin 1999 The Other Sister Heather Tate Held Up Mary 2000 What Women Want Annie 2002 Bug Eilleen 2003 Down with Love Vikki Hiller 2005 Swimmers Merrill Serenity Dr. Caron The Notorious Bettie Page Bunny Yeager 2006 Diggers Julie Griffin and Phoenix Peri 2008 The Spirit Ellen Dolan 2011 Martha Marcy May Marlene Lucy New Year's Eve Grace Schwab 2012 Mud Mary Lee Fairhaven Kate The Time Being Sarah Stars in Shorts Woman 2013 12 Years a Slave Mary Epps 2015 Carol Abby Gerhard The Runner Kate Haber 2016Blue Jay Amanda 2017 Rebel in the Rye Dorothy Olding The Post Tony Bradlee 2018 Ocean's 8 Tammy Bird Box Jessica Hayes 2019 Glass Ellie Staple The Goldfinch Xandra Terrell Abominable Dr. Zara (voice) 2020 Run Diane Sherman 2024 Hold Your Breath Margaret Bellum 2025 Baby Doe Documentary; executive producer 2026 Closing Night Sandra Vale
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1994 Law & Order Maggie Conner Episode: "Family Values" 1995 Friends at Last Diana Television film 1995–1996 American Gothic Merlyn Temple Main role 1996 Shaughnessy Television film 1997 Cracker Janice 2 episodes 1998 The Long Way Home Leanne Bossert Television film 1999–2001 Jack & Jill Elisa Cronkite Main role 2001 Touched by an Angel Zoe Episode: "Manhunt" 2002 Leap of Faith Faith Wardwell Main role Path to War Luci Baines Johnson Television film 2004 The D.A. Lisa Patterson 2 episodes Nip/Tuck Agatha Ripp Episode: "Agatha Ripp" 2005 Deadwood Miss Alice Isringhausen Recurring role 2006 A Christmas Wedding Emily Television film 2006–2007 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Harriet Hayes Main role 2007, 2011 Desperate Housewives Lydia Lindquist 2 episodes 2009 Cupid Claire McCrae Main role 2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Anne Gillette Episode: "Shadow" Grey's Anatomy Young Ellis Grey Episode: "The Time Warp" November Christmas Beth Marks Television film 2011 American Horror Story: Murder House Billie Dean Howard 3 episodes 2012 Game Change Nicolle Wallace Television film Blue Lavinia 2 episodes 2012–2013 American Horror Story: Asylum Lana Winters Main role 2013–2014 American Horror Story: Coven Cordelia Foxx 2014–2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Bette and Dot Tattler 2015–2016 American Horror Story: Hotel Sally McKenna Billie Dean Howard Episode: "Be Our Guest" 2016 The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story Marcia Clark Main role American Horror Story: Roanoke Shelby Miller / Audrey Tindall Lana Winters Episode: "Chapter 10" 2017 Feud Geraldine Page Episode: "And the Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)" American Horror Story: Cult Ally Mayfair-Richards Main role Susan Atkins Episode: "Charles (Manson) in Charge" 2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse Wilhemina Venable / Cordelia Goode Main role Billie Dean Howard Episode: "Return to Murder House" 2019 Family Guy Herself / Marcia Clark Voice; Episode: "You Can't Handle the Booth" 2020 Mrs. America Alice Macray Main role Coastal Elites Clarissa Montgomery Television film Ratched Mildred Ratched Main role; also executive producer 2021 American Horror Story: Double Feature Tuberculosis Karen Main role; also executive producer Mamie Eisenhower Impeachment: American Crime Story Linda Tripp Main role; also executive producer 2023 Saturday Night Live Ms. Jenny Episode: "Pedro Pascal / Coldplay" 2023–2025 The Bear Michelle Berzatto 2 episodes 2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Therapist Episode: "Couples Therapy (Naked & Afraid)" 2025–present All's Fair Carrington Lane Main role; also executive producer 2026Monster: The Lizzie Borden StoryAileen Wuornos3 episodes Cordelia Goode / Sally McKenna / Ms. Wilhemina Venable / Tuberculosis Karen / Mamie EisenhowerMain role
Theater Year Title Role Venue 1994 The Sisters Rosensweig Tess Goode (understudy) Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway Talking Pictures Vesta Jackson Signature Theatre, Off-Broadway 1998–1999 Killer Joe Dottie Smith SoHo Playhouse, Off-Broadway 2005 Colder Than Here Harriet Bradley Music Box Theatre, Broadway The Glass Menagerie Laura Wingfield Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 2006 The Cherry Orchard Varya Mark Taper Forum, regional 2007 Crimes of the Heart Meg Magrath Williamstown Theatre Festival, regional 2008 Laura Pels Theatre, Off-Broadway 2009 The Gingerbread House Stacey Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway Still Life Carrie Ann Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway 2010 Collected Stories Lisa Morrison Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway 2013 Talley's Folly Sally Talley Laura Pels Theatre, Off-Broadway 2014 Conviction Leigh Bay Street Theater, regional 2023–2024 Appropriate Toni Lafayette Hayes Theater, Broadway & Belasco Theatre, Broadway
Director Year Title Notes 2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse Episode: "Return to Murder House"
See also List of awards and nominations received by Sarah Paulson
References
External links