Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Todd Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

WhileSarah PaulsonandHolland Taylorfirst met at a party in 2005, it wasn’t until almost a decade later that the two would reconnect over social media and start dating.

TheTwo and a Half Menactressfirst dropped hints of her romance with Paulsonduring a November 2015 appearance on WNYC’sDeath, Sex & Moneypodcast, where she shared that she was in her first “deeply committed relationship” and that it was with a woman who was much younger than her.

“It’s the most wonderful, extraordinary thing that could have ever possibly happened in my life,” Taylor said about her relationship at the time.

Although Taylor did not reveal her love interest’s name, the couple officiallyconfirmed their relationshipthe following month.

In May 2024, during an appearance on theSmartlesspodcast, Paulson shared her secret to a long-lasting romance.

“We don’t live together. That’s the secret to it,” she said. “We spend plenty of time together but we don’t live in the same house. We’re together when we want to be and we’re not when we don’t.”

From first connecting on social media to supporting each other’s careers, here is a complete timeline of Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor’s relationship.

2005: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor meet at a party

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The couple first met at a dinner party in 2005, but Paulson was dating actress Cherry Jones at the time, and Taylor was also in a relationship.

In 2016,Paulson recalled toThe New York Timesthat Taylor was “the most exquisitely beautiful woman” she had ever seen.

2015: Holland Taylor slides into Sarah Paulson’s DMs

Years later, the actresses crossed paths again and this time, they followed each other on Twitter and began messaging.

Duringa January 2019 appearanceonWatch What Happens Live WithAndy Cohen, Paulson reflected on how their relationship came to be.

Billy Eichner, who was also a guest that evening, asked, “Holland Taylor slid into your DMs?”

“She actually did,” Paulson replied. “Yeah, it’s pretty great.”

November 17, 2015: Holland Taylor posts a photo of Sarah Paulson on Twitter

In late November 2015, Taylor shared a photo onTwitterof Paulson wearing a floor-length gown at what appeared to be a dress fitting. The photo sparked rumors that they were potentially an item.

November 25, 2015: Holland Taylor says she’s dating a younger woman

Though she chose to withhold her significant other’s name,Taylor spoke about her relationship for the first timeduring an interview with the radio station WNYC and revealed that she was dating a woman who happened to be much younger than her.

“There’s a very big age difference between us which I’m sure shocks a lot of people, and it startles me. But as they say, ‘If she dies, she dies,’ " the actress joked.

It was also one of the first times Taylor openly talked about her sexuality. “I haven’t ‘come out’ because I am out,” she said, adding, “I live out.”

December 1, 2015: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor’s relationship is confirmed

Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

A month after her podcast interview,PEOPLE confirmedthat Paulson was in fact the woman Taylor spoke about and that the two were dating. Multiple sources told the outlet that they had been dating for “a couple months.”

December 6, 2015: Sarah Paulson praises Holland Taylor’s talent

After watching Taylor’s performance in the off-Broadway production ofRipcord, Paulson posted a picture of her ticket stub onTwitterand cheered for the actress in the caption, writing, “@HollandTaylor You sure are a genius. #favoriteactress.”

December 7, 2015: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor make their first public appearance as a couple

That same month,the couple enjoyed a date nightat the opening night of Broadway’sSchool of Rockin New York City. They posed for pictures together and walked the red carpet hand in hand. The event also marked the couple’s first public appearance together.

January 14, 2016: Sarah Paulson celebrates Holland Taylor’s birthday

In honor of Taylor’s 73rd birthday, Paulson penned a short but sweet birthday message to her girlfriendon Twitter.

“Happiest Birthday to @HollandTaylor my most favorite human… No one is more deeply grateful that you were born than I,” Paulson wrote.

Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty

January 17, 2016: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor make their red carpet debut

Though the carpet was technically blue, Paulson and Taylor stepped out together for their first formal event at the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards, where Paulson was nominated for her supporting role inAmerican Horror Story: Hotel.

March 3, 2016: Sarah Paulson opens up about her relationship with Holland Taylor

In a conversation withThe New York Times,Paulson spoke about her relationship with Taylorfor the first time publicly. She also discussed her decision to not label her sexuality.

“If my life choices had to be predicted based on what was expected from me from a community on either side, that’s going to make me feel really straitjacketed, and I don’t want to feel that,” she said. “What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor.”

September 18, 2016: Holland Taylor live tweets support for Sarah Paulson during the Emmys

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Despite being miles apart,Taylor still supported Paulsonduring the 2016Emmy Awards, where Paulson was up for two awards. Taylor was in New York for her Broadway playThe Front Pageon the night of the event, but she sent out a series of tweets throughout the night as her girlfriend made her way from the red carpet to the stage to accept the award for outstanding actress in a limited series.

Paulson returned the favor, giving Taylor a shoutout on the red carpet and ending her acceptance speech with “… and Holland Taylor, I love you.”

January 26, 2017: Holland Taylor talks about her relationship with Sarah Paulson

Taylorchatted about her romancewith Paulson during an interview on Radio Andy’sSandylandbroadcast and said Paulson makes her feel like “the luckiest person in the world.”

“I must say it has to be part of what has to be the most wonderful thing in my life, is the whole embrace of this wonderful relationship which makes everything else makes sense,” she added. “I can’t talk about my life today and not mention this wonderful love.”

October 28, 2017: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor dress up for Halloween

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

On Halloween, Paulson posted a selfie of herself with Holland in costume onInstagram, wearing the outfits they had chosen forM. Night Shyamalan’s charity Halloween party in Philadelphia.

January 2, 2018: Sarah Paulson discusses her age gap with Holland Taylor

In an interview withTown & Country, Paulson made it clear that despite her more than 30-year age gap with Taylor, she and Taylor block out any criticism of their relationship.

Paulson had previouslyexplained why she gravitates toward older partnersduring a 2016 interview withThe New York Times.

“There’s a poignancy to being with someone older,” she said. “I think there’s a greater appreciation of time and what you have together and what’s important, and it can make the little things seem very small.”

December 31, 2018: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor Ring in 2019

Paulson and Taylor rang in the New Year together in 2018 and shared a picture from their night onInstagram. Alongside a selfie of the two actresses in party hats, Paulson wrote “The Only One. #happynewyear 💕🎯💕🙌🏼👌🏼🎯🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️.”

January 16, 2019: Sarah Paulson brings Holland Taylor as her date to her movie premiere

TheAmerican Horror Storystar wore a red dress with bold sleeves and matching stilettos, while Taylor accessorized her black pants and top with an embroidered black and gold jacket.

July 28, 2020: Sarah Paulson celebrates Holland Taylor’s Emmy nomination

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In 2020, Taylor received an Emmy nomination for her supporting role in the Netflix limited series,Hollywood. Paulson celebrated the big news onInstagramand expressed how proud she was of her girlfriend in the caption.

“@hollandvtaylor you are the best of the best, in every and all ways,” Paulson wrote. “I am over the moon for you. Congratulations my love.”

August 19, 2020: Holland Taylor discusses life with Sarah Paulson during the pandemic

While quarantining in Los Angeles, Taylor shared withPEOPLEhow life had changed within a few months for herself and Paulson. “Both of us normally have to travel for work, have constantly been filming, always leaving a bag halfway packed in the foyer at our house,” she said.

But despite all of the extra time spent together, Taylor added that there isn’t much more for the couple to learn about each other. “Of course, Sarah and I didn’t need to be brought closer together. We have a very tight, close relationship within each other’s thoughts,” she said. “We share everything that’s going on.”

December 17, 2020: Holland Taylor wishes Sarah Paulson a happy birthday

“Yes, but listen— y’all have no idea,” she wrote. “Happy Birthday to my one and only. I’m grateful you were born, @mssarahcatharinepaulson.”

January 14, 2022: Sarah Paulson sends Holland Taylor birthday love

In 2022, Paulson celebrated her longtime partner’s 79th birthday on Instagramwith a sweet tribute.

“Love of my life. The one. The only one,” she captioned the photo of Taylor. “January 14th is my favorite day of the year- a day to unabashedly celebrate you @hollandvtaylor I am the luckiest of the lucky. I love you only.”

April 24, 2022: Sarah Paulson supports Holland Taylor as her Broadway show comes to an end

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Paulson showed her support for Taylor onInstagramon closing night of Broadway’sAnn, which Taylor wrote and starred in. “I have loved her for 7 years and counting… and tonight, as she brings this production in for its landing, I have never loved her more. She is an artist to the marrow… I happen to love a genius. That’s really the truth,” she wrote.

September 12, 2022: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor walk the red carpet at the Emmys

CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty

Paulson took Taylor as her date tothe Emmys, where she praised her partner on the red carpet.

January 14, 2023: Sarah Paulson writes Holland Taylor a “love letter” for her 80th birthday

In honor of the birthday milestone, Paulson penned what Taylor called a “moving love letter,” and posted it on Instagram.

“You are sitting at the counter not 15 feet from me, drinking your chocolate coffee as usual.I am happiest this way-YOU near,” theRunstar wrote. “When we talk about what it means to live- what this human experience is all about, we always end up somewhere where you aren’t exactly sure if you’ve contributed enough- if it’s mattered.”

Paulson continued: “I can list all the ways in which you matter, ways you’ve contributed to the lives of those around you, as well as the world at large (ANN for one) But I can speak to some piece of this acutely… You matter to me. YOU. MATTER. TO. ME. You’ve changed me. In all the important ways. Sharing my life with you has made everything else make sense. Happiest Birthday to you, Holland V. Taylor. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for loving me. I will never be the same.”

January 26, 2023: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor attend Paris Fashion Week

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Paulson and Taylor suited up — literally — for theFendi Couture runway show. TheRatchedactor wore an oversized almond pantsuit, while Holland looked chic in a gray coat and white pleated pants.

The couple held hands as they walked the red carpet and posed for several photos.

March 12, 2023: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor attend theVanity FairOscars party

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May 22, 2023: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor hold hands in New York City

Paulson and Taylor were photographedholding hands on a stroll through the Big Apple. TheAmerican Horror Storystar looked chic in an oversized plaid blazer and denim, while Taylor donned a fitted navy blazer and slacks.

August 31, 2023: Sarah Paulson calls Holland Taylor “extraordinary”

Paulsonpraised Taylorduring an appearance onChelsea Handler’sDear Chelseapodcast.

“I think she’s the smartest, wisest, funniest, most extraordinary person I’ve ever met,” Paulson said when discussing her girlfriend. “So I can’t imagine not being with her. I just can’t. I just feel very, very lucky to be around someone so incredibly witty and funny and smart and, I think, incredibly sexy.”

Paulson also called Holland “the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen” and says she “sort of constantly reminding me of how capable I am.”

November 21, 2023: Sarah Paulson says Holland Taylor makes her “feel seen”

Adela Loconte/Shutterstock

During an appearance onThe View, Paulson gushed about her longtime love.

“I feel very lucky to be with a person who is smarter, wiser, wittier than I, and that just makes my life better in every possible way,” theAmerican Horror Storyalum said of Taylor. “She alsomakes me feel seen, which I think is the most important gift you can give to any person.”

January 14, 2024: Sarah Paulson shares tribute to Holland Taylor for her birthday

“You are, quite simply- my world. I love you. @hollandvtaylor (don’t be mad about the second to last picture, I didn’t know how to take it out, plus there are pictures of me with no eyebrows, so-).” Paulson wrote in her caption, referencing a selfie where Taylor’s eyes are closed.

August 8, 2024: Holland Taylor says she and Sarah Paulson have “never talked” about marriage

While appearing onSiriusXM’sAndy Cohen Live, Taylor responded, “I don’t think so” when host Andy Cohen asked if she and Paulson ever plan on getting married in the future.

“We’venever talked about itwith any interest. It doesn’t seem to mean to us what it means to a lot of people,” she said.

Taylor continued, “I mean, we have a big generational difference between us, which worries me for her sake. But, you know… what can I do?”

source: people.com