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Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson

Birthday: December 17
Birthplace: Tampa, Florida

More about Sarah Paulson at:

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Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress Sarah Paulson has built an impressive list of credits in film, television and on stage, challenging herself with each new role.

In television, Paulson was most recently seen on American Horror Story where she has portrayed various roles throughout the show's past four seasons. On HBO, she won critical acclaim for her performance in Game Change. For her performance, Paulson received a 2012 Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or A Movie.

Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress Sarah Paulson has built an impressive list of credits in film, television and on stage, challenging herself with each new role.

In television, Paulson was most recently seen on American Horror Story where she has portrayed various roles throughout the show's past four seasons. On HBO, she won critical acclaim for her performance in Game Change. For her performance, Paulson received a 2012 Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or A Movie.

In film, Paulson appeared in director Steve McQueen's Twelve Years a Slave, opposite Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Paul Giamatti. Prior to that, Paulson wrapped production on Jeff Nichols' film Mud, a drama about two boys who make a pact to help a fugitive escape from a Mississippi island. Paulson stars alongside Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey in the role of Mary Lee. The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Paulson also starred in The Time Being, Fox Searchlight’s critically acclaimed film Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Spirit, The Notorious Bettie Page, Down with Love, What Women Want, The Other Sister, and Diggers.

Paulson was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work 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 major television credits also include the lead role on the drama Leap of Faith, Deadwood, Path to War,  Jack and Jill, Cupid, and the series American Gothic with Gary Cole.

On stage, Paulson starred on Broadway in the two-hander Collected Stories opposite Linda Lavin. Previously she appeared on Broadway in the revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, in the critically acclaimed Cherry Orchard for the Mark Taper Forum, Killer Joe, Horton Foote's Talking Pictures at the Signature Theatre, and the off-Broadway production The Gingerbread House.

In 2016, Paulson portrayed real life prosecutor Marcia Clark in the first season of the anthology series American Crime Story, subtitled "The People v. O. J. Simpson." For her work in the series, she won the Primetime Emmy Award, Critics' Choice Television Award, TCA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.

In 2017, Time named Paulson one of the 100 most influential people of the year.

In 2018, Paulson received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her work on American Horror Story: Cult.

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Awards & Nominations

9 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2024
  • Nominee
  • Sarah Paulson, as Therapist
  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith
  • "Couples Therapy (Naked & Afraid)"
  • Prime Video
  • Amazon MGM Studios, Big Indie Pictures
    •
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - 2022
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie - 2018
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie - 2016
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie - 2016
  • Nominee
  • Sarah Paulson, as Hypodermic Sally / Billie Dean Howard
  • American Horror Story: Hotel
  • FX Networks
  • 20th Century Fox Television, FX Productions
    •
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie - 2015
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2014
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2013
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2012
  • Nominee
  • Sarah Paulson, as Nicolle Wallace
  • Game Change
  • HBO
  • Playtone and Everyman Pictures in association with HBO Films
    •

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Holland Taylor of The Morning Show at the 76th Emmy Awards
Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith poses backstage at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Sarah Paulson, Holland Taylor
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Forrest Gilliland, Jean Smart and Sarah Paulson arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe and Angela Bassett arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Uzo Aduba, and Robert Sweeting arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Sarah Paulson and Beanie Feldstein present an award at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

2018 Performers Nominee Reception
2018 Performers Nominee Reception
Sarah Paulson
Claire Foy and Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton
Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman present an award at the 69th Primetime Emmys.
Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 68th Emmys Governors Ball.
Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Bryan Cranston presents the award to Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Sarah Paulson accepts her award at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Sarah Paulson and Marcia Clark on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Sarah Paulson photobombs Beau Bridges and Mayim BIalik at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Sarah Paulson and American Horror Story co-star Naomi Grossman at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Sarah Paulson with Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Sarah Paulson and Jason Butler Harner arrive at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the women of American Horror Story.
Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton and Lily Rabe onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson arrives at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Paulson arrives at the Performers Peer Group nominee reception in West Hollywood.
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story at the 66th Emmys Governors Ball.
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Academy Chairman & CEO Bruce Rosenblum, left, and nominee Sarah Paulson attend the Television Academy's 66th Emmy Awards Performance Nominee Reception at the Pacific Design Center on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Invision fo
Alysia Reiner (l) of Orange Is the New Black, Sarah Paulson (c) of American Horror Story: Coven and Margo Martindale (r) of The Americans attend the Performers nominee reception.
Sarah Paulson (l) of American Horror Story: Coven and Uzo Aduba (r) Orange Is the New Black attend the Performers nominee reception.
The nominees attend the Performers nominee reception.
(From left) Uzo Aduba, Sarah Paulson, Taylor Schilling and Jesse Tyler Ferguson attend the Performers nominee reception.
Bruce Rosenblum (l) and Sarah Paulson (r) of American Horror Story: Coven attend the Performers nominee reception.
Sarah Paulson
Lily Tomlin, Sarah Paulson, Bob Bergen
A frightfully fun place to sit for the 65th Emmy Awards.
Fill 1
Fill 1
Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Holland Taylor of The Morning Show at the 76th Emmy Awards
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Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Holland Taylor of The Morning Show at the 76th Emmy Awards 

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith poses backstage at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards
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Sarah Paulson of Mr. & Mrs. Smith poses backstage at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson, Holland Taylor
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Sarah Paulson of Impeachment: American Crime Story, and Holland Taylor of The Morning Show, on the red carpet

Invision/ AP
SarahPaulsonLindaTripp
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Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story

Kurt Iswarienko/FX
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Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story

Tina Thorpe/FX
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(From left) Margo Martindale, Sarah Paulson, Judith Light, Edie Falco, Beanie Feldstein, Annaleigh Ashford, Cobie Smulders

Elisabeth Caren
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(Standing from left) Cobie Smulders, Beanie Feldstein, Edie Falco, Sarah Paulson, Margo Martindale (Seated from left) Judith Light, Annaleigh Ashford

Elisabeth Caren
Forrest Gilliland, Jean Smart and Sarah Paulson arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Forrest Gilliland, Jean Smart, and Sarah Paulson arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe and Angela Bassett arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe, and Angela Bassett arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Uzo Aduba, and Robert Sweeting arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Uzo Aduba, and Robert Sweeting arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Beanie Feldstein present an award at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Camera

Sarah Paulson and Beanie Feldstein present the award for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 73rd Emmy Awards 

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

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Sarah Paulson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
2018 Performers Nominee Reception
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Sarah Paulson, Darren Criss, and Betty Gilpin at the 2018 Performers Nominee Reception presented by the Television Academy at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, September 15, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Performers Nominee Reception
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Television Academy Governor Patrika Darbo, Sterling K. Brown, Sarah Paulson, and Television Academy Governor Bob Bergen at the 2018 Performers Nominee Reception presented by the Television Academy at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, September 15, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson
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Sarah Paulson on stage at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Claire Foy and Sarah Paulson
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Sarah Paulson presents an award to Claire Foy at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton
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Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton on the red carpet at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton on the red carpet at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman present an award at the 69th Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman present an award at the 69th Primetime Emmys. 

Richard Harbaugh / Image Group LA
Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Camera

Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball. 

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Jason Bateman on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 68th Emmys Governors Ball.
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Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 68th Emmys Governors Ball.

Invision/AP
Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
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Marcia Clark and Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Bryan Cranston presents the award to Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
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Bryan Cranston presents the award to Sarah Paulson at the 2016 Primetime Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson accepts her award at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
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Sarah Paulson accepts her award at the 2016 Primetime Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Marcia Clark on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
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Sarah Paulson and Marcia Clark on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson photobombs Beau Bridges and Mayim BIalik at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson photobombs Beau Bridges and Mayim Bialik at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and American Horror Story co-star Naomi Grossman at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and American Horror Story co-star Naomi Grossman at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson with Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson with Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Jason Butler Harner arrive at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Jason Butler Harner arrive at the Performers Peer Group Celebration August 24 at the Montage in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the women of American Horror Story.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the women of American Horror Story.

Invision/AP
Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
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Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Camera

Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton and Lily Rabe onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton and Lily Rabe onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Connie Britton onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
Camera

Sarah Paulson onstage at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
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Sarah Paulson at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson arrives at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.
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Sarah Paulson arrives at An Evening with the Women of American Horror Story in Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
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Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Foxx of American Horror Story: Coven.

Michele K. Short/FX
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Sarah Paulson as Bette and Dot Tattler of FX series American Horror Story: Freak Show

Frank Ockenfels/FX
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Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson arrives at the Performers Peer Group nominee reception in West Hollywood.
Camera

Sarah Paulson arrives at the Performers Peer Group nominee reception in West Hollywood.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story at the 66th Emmys Governors Ball.
Camera

Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story at the 66th Emmys Governors Ball.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Sarah Paulson of American Horror Story: Coven arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Academy Chairman & CEO Bruce Rosenblum, left, and nominee Sarah Paulson attend the Television Academy's 66th Emmy Awards Performance Nominee Reception at the Pacific Design Center on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Invision fo
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Academy Chairman & CEO Bruce Rosenblum, left, and nominee Sarah Paulson attend the Television Academy's 66th Emmy Awards Performance Nominee Reception at the Pacific Design Center on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)

Alysia Reiner (l) of Orange Is the New Black, Sarah Paulson (c) of American Horror Story: Coven and Margo Martindale (r) of The Americans attend the Performers nominee reception.
Camera

Alysia Reiner (l) of Orange Is the New Black, Sarah Paulson (c) of American Horror Story: Coven and Margo Martindale (r) of The Americans attend the Performers nominee reception.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson (l) of American Horror Story: Coven and Uzo Aduba (r) Orange Is the New Black attend the Performers nominee reception.
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Sarah Paulson (l) of American Horror Story: Coven and Uzo Aduba (r) Orange Is the New Black at the Performers nominee reception.

Invision/AP
The nominees attend the Performers nominee reception.
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The nominees attend the Performers nominee reception.

Invision/AP
(From left) Uzo Aduba, Sarah Paulson, Taylor Schilling and Jesse Tyler Ferguson attend the Performers nominee reception.
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(From left) Uzo Aduba, Sarah Paulson, Taylor Schilling and Jesse Tyler Ferguson attend the Performers nominee reception.

Invision/AP
Bruce Rosenblum (l) and Sarah Paulson (r) of American Horror Story: Coven attend the Performers nominee reception.
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Bruce Rosenblum (l) and Sarah Paulson (r) of American Horror Story: Coven attend the Performers nominee reception.

Invision/AP
Sarah Paulson
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Invision/AP
Lily Tomlin, Sarah Paulson, Bob Bergen
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Invision/AP
A frightfully fun place to sit for the 65th Emmy Awards.
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AP/Invision

In The News

November 30, 2021

Balance of Power

May 01, 2020
Right Minded
August 08, 2016
All Rise
October 15, 2014
A Chance Meeting Changes Sarah Paulson's Game
November 02, 2013
The Witching Hour: Bassett, Bates Go to Battle in 'Coven'
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