Trivia

The first actor to win all five major acting awards (Emmy, TCA Individual Achievement in Drama, Critics Choice, Golden Globe, SAG) in a single year for the same role.

Sarah's fear of flying is so severe that whenever she really must travel by plane, she insists on meeting the pilot(s) just before takeoff so she can personally be assured by them that they are adequately experienced. She might typically ask of the crew, "How long have you been doing this?" Occasionally they will quip, "This is our first day" just to tease her. Pilots familiar with her phobia will often whisper her name "Saaarrraaah" over the cabin PA system during a flight coordinates update.

Her array of uncanny impressions include, Drew Barrymore, Kathleen Turner, Holly Hunter, etc.

In a November 2015 radio interview with WNYC, Holland Taylor addressed the three-decade age difference between her and her girlfriend, Sarah Paulson, by joking, "there's a very big age difference between us which I'm sure shocks a lot of people, and it startles me. But as they say, 'If she dies, she dies.'" (Paulson is 32 years younger than Taylor.).

Is good friends with Jessica Lange.

Suffers from trypophobia (fear of holes), especially bees, honeycombs, sponges, etc. Clusters of holes bother her most.

Her mother, who was a debutante in Florida, moved Sarah and her sister to New York, where her mother supported her two children by working as a waitress.

Has been in a relationship with Holland Taylor since early 2015.

Merited a place in TIME magazine's "The 100 Most Influential People" issue with an homage written by Cate Blanchett. (May 2017)

Is best friends with Amanda Peet.

Partnered with Broadway actress Cherry Jones, starting from 2004-2005. They split amicably in 2009.

In The Other Sister (1999) Sarah did an impersonation of Flipper. She used this same skill for a dolphin character in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006).

Sister of casting director Liz Paulson.

Paulson was diagnosed with melanoma on her back when she was 25. The growth was later removed before the cancer could spread.

Her paternal great-grandfather was the son of Danish parents (the origin of her surname). Her other ancestry includes English, Scottish, Welsh, German, and French.

Played the role "Laura" in Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway. (March 2005)

As of 2018, she has been in 2 films that were Oscar nominated for Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave (2013) and The Post (2017). 12 Years a Slave is a Best Picture winner.

Nominated for the 2018 Emmy Award in the Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category for her role as Ally Mayfair-Richards in American Horror Story (2011) (Cult), but lost to Regina King from Seven Seconds (2018).

Paternal half-sister of Rachel Paulson.

Tattoos on the nape of her neck: Stars, crowned with letter "C". The letter "C" is related to the name of Sarah's mother Catharine Paulson. Sarah said in an interview that considers her mother as her hero.

Friends with Felicity Huffman. They starred together on "Path to War" (2002), The D.A. (2004) and Desperate Housewives (2004) where they played sisters. Both also were on Law & Order (1990) but played in different episodes. They shared nomination for Golden Globe 2017 and Paulson won it.

Mother worked as a waitress at Sardi's when Paulson was a child.

Grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Appeared with Steven Weber in The D.A. (2004) and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006). She also appeared with Amanda Peet three different times: in Jack & Jill (1999), Griffin & Phoenix (2006), and now Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006).

Is great friends with Elizabeth Reaser.

Tattoo near her left ankle: Hieroglyph.

Sarah and her Leap of Faith (2002) co-star Lisa Edelstein met on the set of the Mel Gibson comedy What Women Want (2000). It was just coincidence that they became castmates again.

She is a lifelong liberal Democrat.

Moved from South Tampa, Florida to New York City at the age of five.

Alumna of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1992.

Tattoo on her right foot: Starburst. Starburst tattoo is a symbol of ambitions, desires, goals, hope, growth, and prosperity.

"Varya" in "The Cherry Orchard" in 2006 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles with Annette Bening, Alfred Molina, 'Francis Fischer', Rebecca Mozo and Jennifer Dundas. (February 2006)

Tattoo on her right forearm: "anything you do, let it come from you then it will be new" made by the celebrity tattoo artist, Winter Stone for the celebrations of her 45th birthday on December 17, 2019.

Playing "Meg" in "Crimes of the Heart", directed by Kathleen Turner, with Roundabout Theater Company. (February 2008)

She has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: 12 Years a Slave (2013).

Is occasionally mistaken for British actress Claire Foy.

Tattoo on her left wrist: "A. M." that possibly refers to the initials of the names of her deceased dogs.

Born at 11:05PM (EST).

Supporter of the politician Kamla Harris.

Campaigned for Hillary Clinton in the American Presidential race in 2016.

Has little interest in working with people who vote republican.

Dislikes the republican political party.