DP/30: Sarah Paulson on 12 Years a Slave

She's been The Girl Most Likely for about a decade after blasting into Hollywood's consciousness in Down With Love. She became the go-to Sorkin actress with Studio 60, then Ryan Murphy put her in Nip/Tuck and now, three separate seasons of American Horror Story. And this year, she is blowing audiences away with her powerful turn as Mrs Epps in 12 Years A Slave as she gets under her slaves' skin, literally. She spoke to David Poland about 12 Years and her own journey.
Shot in Los Angeles, November 2013
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[@ScubaSteve3560]

Funny that she mentions something about she cant wait until the day when she gets to play a real person "if it ever happens." Little did she know, a few years later she'd win an emmy for playing Marsha Clarke. :)

[@LaGuitarra14]

I just thought about that too. And damn did she nail her role as Marcia Clark

[@aysesedefkurt7234]

and she is doing linda tripp now!!

[@valerieharris7899]

Mrs Epps was a real person

[@layma5113]

Watching this five years later - yes, she definitely rises on the hotness grade every year😍😍😍

[@azaam1432]

I love her, could listen to her voice all day long!!!

[@millygribben5267]

she's hilarious she needs to play a more comedic character on AHS soon (although I have yet to see freak show is she funny in that?)

[@millygribben5267]

***** its on my (long) list of shows to watch ;)

[@cuptainmarr-ell4569]

smart, witty, gorgeous, intelligent, funny, dorky and she is so good with all her clothes, so stylish...elegant...my 2nd female crush, Karlie Kloss my daarling.....

[@10solitare01]

Sarah, rest assured that you are very high on the cute scale

[@user-jt6od7ig5i]

I could listen to her all day long! I'm not sure exactly what it is..she's just so intelligent & sweet; she brightens my day!

[@TheConciseStatement]

Shame on gay and bisexual ladies everywhere if the lovely Sarah Paulson is still single.

[@saracastanheira3946]

I want her

[@lauryneluz3110]

Sara Castanheira this is like the biggest mood of everyone who’s stan Sarah, but happy she find her soulmate 🤧

She's sooooo hot but I'm married

[@WarsawBlues]

Holy Shit. That Smile.

[@marianavieira]

7:41 "I got a lot of Kristen Wiig bits in my back pocket I'd like to do for ya" LOL

[@zuziiite1]

I love her, could listen to her voice all day long!!!

[@66Flux]

Yes. In 12 Years a Slave, as Mistress Epps talks about lashes and whipping with THAT voice, its spine chilling!

[@mashaelalmarri7154]

I hated the fact that she said "I'm not saying that I am cute now" and the interviewer didn't comment just giggled , she was cute back then and she even cuter now

[@TheConciseStatement]

Character actor is such a strange Hollywood term. Surely that's code for 'Good at inhabiting role but not allowed to be a film star on posters.'

[@MattWeisherComposer]

The Concise Statement you’ve never heard someone say “you’re such a character”?

[@adrianadicicco498]

She never fails to put a smile on my face! Such a great actress.

[@calliweininger7068]

I love how real and honest she is.

[@BonesPx]

the moan at the beginning thou!

[@zerosleep657]

patricia. yeah ....

[@amkf]

Sarah Paulson and Carey Mulligan (during the Shame DP/30) coincidentally used the exact same word to describe Michael Fassbender: "dangerous".

[@APointlessGirl]

She so freaking gorgeous.

[@velvet0ground]

i am so in love with her. i just can't.

[@darwynn17]

I adore her. Such a wonderful actress and funny and personable in interviews. Can't wait to see more of her work.

[@bailey312]

She's so adorably self-deprecating, it's ridiculous. Loading up 12 Years a Slave as I type, I have to see her in a role like that!

[@Schmidteren]

shes god damn cute

[@RagdollRalph]

Aw that little conversation about the "cute grid" was frickin adorable :D Can't really compare her to her younger self, but as is now indeed she's very cute ;)

[@GracefulDanny]

I wanted someone to shoot her in the face in 12 Years A Slave. Then I watched her interviews and she seems absolutely awesome, I love her sass. Great actress.

[@laminage]

+GracefulDanny If she was so nasty and you hated her, you knew what a terriffic Actress she is. Isn't it kind of eerie. She works with Cate Blanchett as Abby Gerhard in "Carol", and works with Lupita N'yongo in Twelve Years A Slave. Cate Blanchett & Lupita N'Yongo appear on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and both Won Oscars that same night.

[@Kmn01923]

really? many people hated her but that character is my best sarah’s character and she acted to another level i think. Because whenever she came out, the scene, the air were almost suffocating, I can feel that southern summer and suffocating social mood.. She was like burnt stain on pot, so sticky to put off,, her passion that once might exist was gone under Puritan, hostile, oppressing rule of the white society and hopeless to recover.. She was so pathetic, so sad, so hopeless.. and so guilty to get redemption.. Sarah almost made aura with that character.. suffocating aura.

[@dkthg]

@@Kmn01923 She does have a great ass.

[@ParalyzethePublic-qn4ll]

The role appealed to her because she got to play a woman with power at a time when women had no power. That role was empowering to her as a White woman.

[@shanealcantara1405]

She is perfect, her voice it's amazing

[@christinekangaslampi1425]

she is hilarious :D she was phenomenal in 12YAS

[@dannilevil]

She's so chill and nice, nothing like the character she played, love her :)

[@notmanagingmymischief]

I don't understand how one person can be this perfect in every way

[@Auntkekebaby]

That was so nice of Ryan Murphy. AMH & 12 Years a Slave...Sarah Paulson is rocking right now.

[@PalmurcioWorld]

Why THE HELL is her amazing performance being so overlooked? She was by far the best supporting actress of the film and one of the best supporting actress of the year, maybe the best. Lupita was so good, but I don't know why she's being so nominated, Sarah portrayed a twisted, conflicted, manipulative, jealous cruel woman in an extraordinary way, I can't understand why all the awards are ignoring her. Her scenes are just shocking, unforguettable; the bottle moment and her monologue to Mister Epps are stuck in my head. Sarah nailed the character, deserves WAY more credit for it. 

[@Nazaba09]

Awards like to reward victims and she’s not considered one.

[@ParalyzethePublic-qn4ll]

@@Nazaba09Maybe because her character is evil?

[@MarigoId]

Sarah being Jessica Lange’s daughter is hella iconic

[@mireilledischer3380]

Speaking as one who has had conversations with many actors, i find Sarah exceptionally insightful , perceptive and articulate.

[@lauryneluz3110]

she always makes a smiles on my faces aw I love her so much 🤧

[@shanecadden7914]

saw 12 years a slave last night, and it was an outstanding film, and i hope to God that sarah paulson and steve mcqueen work together again

[@myraguemes6170]

Sarah darling you you always give proper interviews, keep me always wanting more...lovely ♥

[@cora1235]

2021 and Sarah is very very very very high on the cute scale

[@laminage]

I loved her in Carol. She was just a great Friend as Abby Gerhard. As for finding it hard to play Mrs. Epps she should talk to Lynda Day George who played Anne Reynolds Sr., in Roots who admitted that before the Miniseries, she didn't have any black friends but she admitted that she had nothing but mad respect for the people for what they endured.

[@jesusfreaklol1]

how is she friggin single? i dont feel so bad now about being single but how??

[@duffman102]

Because she's obviously an alcoholic/ druggie...

[@azagarvic7897]

Anna Thunderroad no way you saw her at whole foodssss!!!?!?! in nyc or near Sag Harbor?

[@azagarvic7897]

Anna Thunderroad wow lucky/ unlucky you sorry she was rude... god that really blows... i wouldnt expect that :/

[@marcosa.m.9515]

Is not Is with an elderly actress

[@eme.261]

@Anna Thunderroad - I bet that Anna Thunderroad was lying out of her asshole and that's why the comment was deleted.

[@nataliastornello]

Petition for Sarah to be in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie

[@Onmysheet]

She has great dress sense.

[@user-ws5li8dz9h]

i would love to see sarah on snl

[@leosylver7]

so beautiful

[@teaber]

Funny that for a good 5' it turns into the Michael Fassbender love fest. I hope you are forgiven David - I really miss your interviews with Michael!

[@Bianking4Life]

I just love her! Very interesting to watch. I could have watched this for hours.

[@emmaridgers8051]

I feel like I could listen to her talk all day

[@msieatass6124]

i think she was gorgeous when she was younger ❤️❤️ she’s beautiful now but still

[@beakittelscherz5419]

This guy makes the best interviews! very interesting questions & listener!

[@sweetanni2425]

Sarah Paulson is just so perfekt I love her ❤😍

[@ryandropc2052]

Shes awesome.

[@imspadavecchiafot]

Nice human being.

[@sandybeaches3950]

To me the movie 12 years a slave was so so hellified. It is the one best depiction of Slavery. Man's inhumanity to man.

[@EzeICE]

She speaks with a slight subtle lisp. Makes her more beautiful to me.

[@n.t.6609]

It's really interesting because Carey Mulligan also said that Michael Fassbender was dangerous in the way that you never know what he's gonna do

[@karlperriment7763]

She down plays herself..she's amazing

[@GryfinWing]

I died at "pendulous boobs" XD

[@TheJJDominoIII]

Kristen Wigg has a twin

[@quillber]

nah

[@jennifermichelemarus3101]

She reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Perkins only better looking. Sarah is attractive.

[@thebeatleslover2283]

She is my favorite actress

[@skinsman3]

She's so cute.

[@Chan-lv8ce]

perfect

[@Ashyblubear]

She is gorgeous

[@myraguemes6170]

Love her awesome~ness ♥♥♥

[@Yassutta]

U r such a great actor!

[@okaydanvers3136]

SHES SUCH A BABE

[@johnlamphier9812]

I like her makeup

[@MsBogdan07]

Honestly i wouldn't mind being her slave ! Foreveer ! I love her !

[@raymondleggs5508]

she's pretty

[@hkearpgirl]

lol the 101 dalmatians Glenn Close impression... SPOT ON

[@okaydanvers3136]

IM SO OBSESSED AWE

[@NameIsCarl]

She looks like an happier, lighter Catherine Deneuve :)

[@CarlosEnriqueAmaro]

🙌🏼 Someone needs to release a production titled, “How To Fall In Love With Sarah Paulson In Ten Days.” 😅😂(Binge watch all her work…and her content on KZbin.)

[@ClaraBlush]

Love her! One of my fav actresses. Sarah and Cate killed it in Mrs. America.

[@CarlosEnriqueAmaro]

I just noticed Sarah’s bird tattoos for the first time. On her left hand wrist. I feel as if now I need the matching tattoo on mine for the life of me. 🕊️🕊️🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🦩🦩🦅🦅🦚🦚🪿🪿😂😅

[@beatriz-ir5fw]

wish she was my wife

[@Runningproud30]

She's like Jennifer lawrence

[@mariaramalho1867]

19:34 barely did she know what was coming for her in freak show.

[@igee7344]

Pretty

[@Byay844]

be my bestfriend

[@raycampbell162]

She's really terrific!!!

[@shanealcantara1405]

I love her 3-3!

[@Avasive]

Im having a drink tonight Dave....

[@rubengutierrez5102]

Mrs. Epps hit that slave girl with glass, rocks, and anything she could get her hands on! The mistress she played was so mean, she wouldn't even let the slave girl wash herself off with soap! Sarah Paulson played one of meanness characters I've seen on film, for real!

[@mariahelenacarvalho3897]

Ela fica muito bonita com esse cabelo

[@matinselva7409]

The unadvised bee immunohistochemically breathe because cushion ultrasonically phone regarding a tested headlight. actually, fascinated taste

[@shanilaseemi6237]

Could you imagine bajam iam sitting with najam as sonographer Nd rudolph as radiologist and sono Grapher and where they l sitting

[@marcosa.m.9515]

Sorry... But, What exactly is bullshit acting?

[@shanilaseemi6237]

Could you imagine they are acting noor un nahar who has delusion she is white she is afridi and yousuf zai came from Pakistan

[@Kueytwo]

I enjoyed 12 years a slave and down with love for very different reasons.

[@softfishy]

Fantastic interview even years later but yall did her dirty with that intro.

[@joshuadaltilia8480]

Her hair compliments her feminine beauty

[@Ritzix1]

Amazing …

[@ReadingComprehension8X]

30:36

[@shanilaseemi6237]

How she is doing with them

[@DinoHF79]

I do think she looks hotter as a blonde.

[@Lusapho680]

'She learn you to read'🤣🤣🤣

[@karlperriment7763]

Adele looks like her now

[@Avasive]

Jack' Gill and David

[@Avasive]

Benjamin Paulson

[@Avasive]

Trust your instincts

[@PilcrowDesigns]

great interview!

[@scyllaandcharybdis]

When she makes the scissors gesture with her hands at 30:15 what expression/saying or phrase or whatever is she referring to ??? Something to do with apologising i'm guessing, which is it?

[@rosieboblast]

pretty sure she was asking if he had cut that part out of the interview in the editing process

[@scyllaandcharybdis]

thanks

[@mlc2005]

She was making a self-deprecating joke by saying that the reason the scene was cut was because it ended up on the "chopping block" (when she makes the scissor motion) because she was bad and nothing was usable.

[@heaventje]

Matthew C Then you didn't pay attention, because it had absolutely nothing to do with her acting. The interviewer was talking about how he said/asked something about Michael Fassbender to Carey Mulligan that didn't get across the way he intended it. Michael Fassbender saw the interview and it made him mad. So Sarah Paulson asked if the interviewer cut that part out because he didn't mean to upset Fassbender and feels really bad about it.