"Sarah Paulson"
In this episode of SmartLess, actor Sarah Paulson shares insights into her personal life and acting career. The podcast explores Paulson's unique phobias, her unconventional upbringing that fostered her passion for acting, and the beginnings of her long-term relationship with actress Holland Taylor.
Paulson reflects on her transformative roles, such as portraying Marcia Clark in "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story." The podcast also delves into her experiences in theater, including her ongoing collaboration with director Ryan Murphy. Listeners get a glimpse into Paulson's behind-the-scenes anecdotes and the chemistry between the hosts and their guest.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the May 13, 2024 episode of the SmartLess
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
Sarah Paulson's personal life
Sarah Paulson has a unique set of phobias, including a severe fear of flying and an intense aversion to patterns of holes. Paulson copes by scrutinizing pilots' credentials and weeping during turbulence, according to the podcast.
Paulson's mother nurtured her passion for acting from a young age during their peripatetic childhood between Florida, New York, and Maine, notes the podcast. Her mother hinted at a psychic's prediction of a "non-traditional life" for Paulson.
Paulson's romance with actress Holland Taylor began through brief encounters and social media interactions. Despite initial concerns over their age gap, Paulson found encouragement from friends, and they've been together for nearly a decade, though maintaining separate homes - a living situation Paulson credits for the relationship's longevity.
Sarah Paulson's acting career
Transformative roles
Sean Hayes compliments Paulson's acclaimed, transformative portrayals, like her embodiment of Marcia Clark in "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story." Using extensive prosthetics, she also played Linda Tripp. To maintain the positive experience of these roles, Paulson avoids watching her own performances.
Theater and collaborations
Currently starring in "Appropriate" in New York, Paulson prefers not knowing when familiar audience members attend. The podcast shares her anecdotes about comical audience interactions and a costar's mid-show illness leading to an understudy taking over.
Paulson says director Ryan Murphy offered her opportunities showcasing her talents. She's often involved in Murphy's projects, suggesting an ongoing artistic partnership.
Casual conversation
The hosts express admiration for Paulson's talents and energy, sharing personal humor and playful exchanges about mispronunciations, family members' careers, and unsolicited feedback - highlighting their engaging camaraderie with listeners.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- A peripatetic childhood typically means a childhood marked by constant movement or travel from place to place. In this context, it suggests that Sarah Paulson and her mother frequently relocated to different cities or regions during her upbringing. This lifestyle could have been due to various reasons such as work, family circumstances, or personal preferences.
- Marcia Clark was the lead prosecutor in the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial in the mid-1990s. Sarah Paulson portrayed Marcia Clark in the TV series "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," which dramatized the trial and its surrounding events. Paulson's performance as Marcia Clark received critical acclaim for its accuracy and depth, showcasing the challenges and complexities faced by the real-life prosecutor during the trial.
- Linda Tripp was an American civil servant who became known for her involvement in the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal in 1998. She secretly recorded phone conversations with Monica Lewinsky about her relationship with President Bill Clinton, which led to significant public and legal repercussions. Tripp claimed her actions were motivated by patriotism and handed over the tapes to authorities to avoid wiretap charges.
- Ryan Murphy is a prolific television producer, director, and writer known for creating popular TV series like "Glee," "American Horror Story," and "Pose." He often collaborates with talented actors like Sarah Paulson, offering them significant roles in his projects. Murphy's work is characterized by its diverse storytelling, bold themes, and unique visual style, attracting a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. His projects frequently explore complex characters and societal issues, showcasing a range of genres from musical comedy to horror and drama.
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Sarah Paulson's personal life
Sarah Paulson, acclaimed for her potent on-screen presence, has a personal life marked by significant phobias, a dynamic upbringing, and a distinctive romantic relationship.
Fear of flying and quirks
Despite her strength in character roles, Sarah Paulson harbors an intense fear of flying. Her anxiety is so severe that she needs to meet pilots before every flight. Private flights are particularly distressing for her. She copes with turbulence by weeping and unintentionally gripping whoever is seated next to her. Paulson looks for reassurance by scrutinizing the pilots' credentials and asking pointed questions about the flight conditions and the aircraft.
Her phobias don't end there. She also suffers from trypophobia – an intense aversion to patterns of holes. Additionally, Paulson has never been stung by a bee, but the mere presence of one can send her into a panic, and she harbors a fear of clowns.
Family background and upbringing
Paulson’s early years was a peripatetic journey between Florida, New York, and Maine due to the brief marriage and subsequent divorce of her parents. Despite the nomadic lifestyle, her mother remained a constant, nurturing presence, supporting her passion for acting from a young age. This formative relationship deeply influenced Paulson's later life, with her mother even hinting at a psychic's prediction of a "non-traditional life" for her daughter, foreseeing her future path.
Relationship with Holland Taylor
Paulson’s romance with actress Holland Taylor began unassumingly at a dinner party and evolved over brief encounters and social media interactions. After their ini ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Sarah Paulson's personal life
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Sarah Paulson experiences intense fear of flying, requiring reassurance from pilots before flights. Her anxiety during turbulence leads to weeping and gripping those nearby. Additionally, she copes with her fear of flying by asking detailed questions about the flight conditions and aircraft.
- Trypophobia is an aversion to patterns of holes or bumps. People with trypophobia may experience anxiety, disgust, or even panic when exposed to such patterns. This condition is not officially recognized as a mental disorder but can cause significant distress for those affected. Sarah Paulson's trypophobia adds to the list of phobias she experiences, contributing to her overall anxiety and discomfort in certain situations.
- Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor have an unconventional living arrangement where t ...
Counterarguments
...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Sarah Paulson's acting career
Sarah Paulson's acting career is distinguished by her conscious choice not to watch her performances and her transformative roles, including her collaborations with director Ryan Murphy.
Breakthrough and acclaimed roles
Paulson's transformative portrayals of figures like Marcia Clark and Linda Tripp
Sean Hayes compliments Sarah Paulson's portrayal of Nicole Wallace in "Game Change" and cites another transformative role as Marcia Clark in "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story." Paulson felt deeply connected to Marcia Clark, describing the experience as if she were embodying the person. This role, which brought her acclaim, was the most connected she'd ever been to a character. She underwent a significant physical transformation with the use of prosthetics to play Linda Tripp. After receiving praise for her role as Marcia Clark, Paulson decided not to watch herself to maintain the positive experience of the role.
Her avoidance of watching her own performances, to preserve the positive experience
Paulson elaborates that she abstains from watching her performances unless as an executive producer she needs to provide notes on a production. This is part of her effort to avoid being hypercritical and to retain the positive feelings she holds for her work.
Theater work and experiences
Memorable incidents during stage productions, including audience interactions
Currently in New York for a play titled "Appropriate" at the Belasco Theater, Paulson engages in a profound monologue that showcases her theatrical prowess. She prefers not to know when familiar faces are in the audience, as it makes her too conscious about their presence. Paulson humorously discusses "fancy famous" audience members who do not visit backstage post-performance, and an incident involving actress Trish Hawkins, who sent Paulson a lengthy email filled with performance notes.
The special connection and communication between actors and the theater audience
She shares an anecdote about a comical audience interaction during a stage performance and speaks of a unique incident where an act ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Sarah Paulson's acting career
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Sarah Paulson has made a deliberate decision not to watch her own performances on screen. She does this to maintain a positive experience and avoid being overly critical of her work. This choice allows her to focus on the process of acting rather than critiquing herself while watching.
- Sarah Paulson underwent a significant physical transformation to play Linda Tripp in a role. This transformation involved the use of prosthetics to alter her appearance to better resemble the real-life figure she was portraying. The process of using prosthetics allowed Paulson to embody the character of Linda Tripp more convincingly on screen. This transformation was a crucial aspect of her performance in the role.
- Sarah Paulson chooses not to watch her own performances to preserve the positive emotions she feels while portraying a character. By avoiding viewing herself on screen, she aims to maintain the authenticity and satisfaction she experiences during the acting process. This practice helps her stay connected to the characters she plays and prevents self-criticism from affecting her perception of her work. Paulson's decision reflects her focus on the creative and emotional aspects of acting rather than critiquing her performances.
- Paulson prefers not to know when familiar faces are in the audience during her stage performances to avoid feeling self-conscious about their presence, allowing her to focus on her acting without distractions. This practice helps her maintain her concentration and deliver a more authentic performance without being influenced by the knowledge of specific individuals watching her work.
- In theater, comical audience interactions can occur when unexpected or humorous moments happen between performers and the audience during a live show. These interactions can range from spontaneous reactions to intentional engagement, adding a unique and unpredictable element to the performance. They often create memorable experiences for both the actors and the audience, showcasing the dynamic and interactive nature of live theater. Such moments can break the fourth wall and blur the line between the performers and the spectators, creating a shared and immersive theatrical experience.
- Ryan Murphy, a prominent director and producer ...
Counterarguments
...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Casual conversation and banter
In a recent free-flowing and laughter-filled episode, the hosts Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett share their admiration and enthusiasm for Sarah Paulson's talents and personality, sprinkling their conversation with playful teasing, personal anecdotes, and good-natured humor.
Hosts' admiration and enthusiasm for Paulson's talents and personality
The hosts continually compliment Sarah Paulson on her accomplished and versatile acting career. They discuss how enjoyable and candid her presence is, each host expressing affection and rooting for her success. They marvel at her energy and admire her consistent ability to perform well, regardless of the role. She brings love, energy, and humor to each project, they note.
Playful, free-flowing exchanges between Paulson and the hosts
Throughout the episode, the hosts and Sarah Paulson engage in good-natured teasing and share amusing anecdotes. Self-deprecating humor abounds as Paulson jokes with the hosts about various personal experiences, including her performance anxieties and peculiar fears.
Jokes about past jobs, such as Jason Bateman working at a stinky fish market, Sean Hayes' unique dessert place, and concerns about children’s smartphone use are interwoven with more serious social and family issues. The banter extends to playful exchanges about attending each other's theater performances, with Paulson humorously noting her dislike of knowing who's in the audience and Will Arnett insisting he’ll respect her wishes ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Casual conversation and banter
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The hosts, Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett, share a close friendship with Sarah Paulson, evident through their playful teasing and admiration for her talents. Their banter includes jokes about personal experiences and inside humor, showcasing a comfortable and familiar dynamic. The exchanges highlight a warm camaraderie and mutual respect among the hosts and Sarah Paulson. The interactions are characterized by lighthearted teasing, shared anecdotes, and a genuine appreciation for each other's company.
- In the context of the text, jokes about mispronunciations and miscommunications involve humor derived from mistakes in speech or understanding. Involving family members in the humor suggests that these mistakes or funny situations may occur within family interactions, adding a personal touch to the comedic ex ...
Counterarguments
...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
