Sarah Paulson
A chameleonic actress who delivers fearless, psychologically layered performances, often as complex real-life figures or deeply flawed women.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American actress·Birthday: December 17·Generation X
Biography
Sarah Paulson didn't become an overnight sensation; she built a reputation, brick by brilliant brick, as an actor's actor. For years, she was the captivating presence you recognized from quality television—'Deadwood', 'Studio 60'—whose name you might not immediately know. That changed through her profound creative partnership with Ryan Murphy. In projects like 'American Horror Story' and 'American Crime Story', she found a playground for her extraordinary range, disappearing into roles as diverse as a two-headed freak, a hypnotic medium, and the towering, tragic figures of Marcia Clark and Linda Tripp. Paulson approaches each part with a fearless commitment to emotional truth, earning not just awards but a deep respect for her ability to humanize the difficult and the damned.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sarah was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sarah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Sarah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Clark in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story'.
- Received critical acclaim for playing nurse Mildred Ratched in the Netflix series 'Ratched', a role originated by Louise Fletcher.
- Has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for her varied roles across the 'American Horror Story' anthology series.
- Made her Broadway debut in a 2013 revival of 'Talley's Folly', for which she won a Theatre World Award.
Did You Know?
She is a longtime partner of actress Holland Taylor, with a significant age difference they have both spoken openly about.
She is a passionate advocate for animal rights and has several rescued pets.
She provided the voice for the character of Audrey in the animated film 'The Spirit'.
She turned down the role of Miranda Hobbes in 'Sex and the City', which later went to Cynthia Nixon.
“My job is to try to find the humanity in someone, even if it's buried under a lot of other things.”
