«I get tired of the same old thing»: Sarah Paulson on unsettling roles, fear of criticism and style experiments
The star of L’Officiel USA’s new cover
Sarah Paulson is the cover star of the November issue of L’Officiel USA. In an interview with the magazine, the star of «American Horror Story» spoke candidly about her love of complex characters, her longstanding collaboration with Ryan Murphy and her relationship with fashion. The actress also reflected on her fear of criticism and the prospect of taking on new creative challenges.
For the shoot, the 51-year-old actress posed for photographer Chantal Anderson in looks by Celine, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Maison Margiela and other fashion houses.
Over the past two decades, Sarah Paulson has become one of the leading actresses in Ryan Murphy’s projects. During that time, she has portrayed a host of eccentric, complex and sometimes downright unsettling women — from the witch Cordelia Goode in «American Horror Story» to serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the series «Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story».
Such transformations demand not only tremendous emotional commitment but also serious physical preparation. In preparation for filming «Monster», Paulson watched recordings of Wuornos’s court appearances and worked with a movement coach to master her distinctive mannerisms and body language.
«When you do one take after another, at some point you catch yourself thinking, “My God, this is starting to make me feel crazy”», the actress recalled with a sense of humor.
But such experiments do not frighten her in the slightest. On the contrary, Sarah feels most at home when working on challenging and unconventional characters.
«I think I’m built for extremes», she added.
Despite her successful career and numerous awards, every new project still makes the actress nervous. The more of herself she puts into her work, the harder it becomes to let go of the result and allow audiences to judge it for themselves.
«The more emotionally invested I am in the work, and the more it means to me, the scarier it is to put it out into the world», Paulson admitted.
At the same time, she understands that art inevitably provokes different reactions and that audiences have every right to admire her work as well as criticize it.
Her collaboration with Ryan Murphy holds a special place in Paulson’s career. The actress compares working with the director to being invited into the attic of an eccentric relative, where the most extraordinary costumes are kept and you can try on any role imaginable.
«It’s like being offered money to dance around in your own imagination and picture what it would be like to be an incredibly powerful witch. Creatively, this is where you can have the most fun, because there are no limits», Sarah explained.
Still, their relationship has not always been smooth sailing. Paulson does not hide the fact that tensions arose between her and Murphy at one point. Over time, however, they learned to talk openly about difficult moments and take greater care of their friendship.
«It’s a relationship we’ve had to fight to keep healthy and alive. We acknowledged that we never wanted to go through those difficulties again, and the only way to avoid that is to be as open and honest with each other as possible», the actress explained.
Sarah Paulson is just as bold with her fashion choices on the red carpet as she is on screen. Her wardrobe features everything from unconventional avant-garde dresses to classic eveningwear.
Paulson revealed that she enjoys playing with details and unexpected combinations. Velvet, lace, gloves, ruffles and striking shoulder lines — these are the elements that help her create a distinctive look every time.
«I get bored when nothing changes. I get tired of the same old thing», the actress said of her approach to style.
At the same time, her constant desire to experiment with new looks also makes her reflect on her own identity. Sarah sees the ability to transform herself as a tremendous asset for an actress, but in everyday life, she sometimes wonders what lies behind her urge to keep changing.
«Being a chameleon is an incredible advantage for an actress. But on a human level, I sometimes ask myself: What are you looking for when you keep changing? Is it discomfort with yourself, or do I simply enjoy looking at myself from different angles?»
In January, Sarah Paulson is set to return to the stage in the production of «Small Mouth Sounds».
The story follows a group of city dwellers who head into the woods for a spiritual retreat in search of peace. The play is notable for its minimal dialogue, with the actors relying primarily on gestures and nonverbal interaction to convey their emotions.
Paulson speaks about the upcoming production with evident excitement, admitting that she is particularly intrigued by the opportunity to take part in a performance where words take a back seat.
«We’re all so used to working with language. Do you know how loud silence can be?», the actress remarked.
Photo: L’Officiel USA
