All The Reasons We Love Sarah Paulson

She Takes Her Characters Seriously

Photo by Mike Pont/FilmMagic

While filming 12 Years a Slave, Sarah and Lupita Nyong’o didn’t speak to one another due to the heaviness of their characters and the scenes they depicted. The two later became friends but only exchanged a silent nod during filming.

Director Steve McQueen also forbade her from apologizing for her character’s atrocities as she depicted a slave owner. Paulson has been known to take on her characters while allowing herself to feel what they may have gone through whether fictional or not.