If you're strolling into the Belasco Theatre in New York City anytime soon, brace yourself for a wild ride through family drama, cranked up to the max. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' "Appropriate" is the show, and the powerhouse commanding the stage is none other than Sarah Paulson.
Picture this: a tale of siblings reuniting post their father's passing, where secrets burst out of the woodwork, emotions run high, and almost nothing is left unsaid. Paulson, portraying the elder sister Toni, nails it, crafting a character who's a potent mix of strength and vulnerability, albeit a tad prickly.
Ever wonder if Paulson craves approval like the rest of us? Turns out, offstage, she's all about that validation, admitting, "I'm totally that person going, 'Please like me!' It's like I'm a puppy begging for attention. But as an actor, I switch gears; I don't dwell on it."
And to think, seeing her name up in lights was a total shocker. Reflecting on the moment, she recalls, "I couldn't hold back the tears. I mean, who would've thought? My mom, bless her, she used to drag me to the theater when I was a kid because she knew how much I loved it." And that was just the beginning of her journey.
Paulson's mom, Catharine Gordon, had her own dreams, uprooting the family from Florida to the Big Apple post-divorce. Landing a gig at the iconic Sardi's Restaurant, she unknowingly set the stage for her daughter's destiny.
Growing up, Paulson found herself at LaGuardia High School, trying to stand out among classmates with exotic names. Feeling a tad plain with 'Sarah', she reinvented herself as 'Saarah'. After graduating, she dove headfirst into the industry, bypassing college for Broadway gigs before venturing into TV and film.
Her breakout role as Marcia Clark in "The People vs. O.J. Simpson" catapulted her to fame, although she's yet to watch herself in action. Even her personal life, like her relationship with Holland Taylor, is unconventional but fulfilling, with separate living arrangements that suit them both just fine.
Then came a quintessentially New York moment: her portrait joining the illustrious caricatures at Sardi's, where her mom once toiled. It was a tribute not just to her, but to her mom's courage in chasing dreams, paving the way for hers.
Login