Sarah Paulson Says Marriage Makes Her Uneasy Despite 12-Year Romance

Paulson said she is happy she has not married, explaining that a formal commitment is not necessary to make their relationship meaningful. Her reluctance, she stressed, is not about wanting to leave Taylor or pursue another relationship. She values retaining her independence, and said the idea of being called someone’s “wife” carries a sense of ownership she dislikes. Taylor, she added, does not want the label either.

Taylor, 83, voiced a similar view in 2024 on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, “Radio Andy.” “It doesn’t seem to mean to us what it means to a lot of people. … We would [get married] if we wanted to,” she said. The actresses met at a dinner party in 2005 and began dating in 2015. Their relationship has drawn attention in part because of their 32-year age difference. Paulson said on the podcast that they will mark their 12th anniversary in January.

They also keep separate homes. On an October 20 appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Taylor said demanding careers often take them to different places, though they spend as much time together as their schedules allow. They share Taylor’s New York apartment when both are in the city and maintain separate properties in Los Angeles. Paulson has been staying at Taylor’s home while preparing to move into a newly purchased house. On the “SmartLess” podcast in 2024, Paulson said having separate spaces helped their relationship: “We spend plenty of time together, but we don’t live in the same house.”

Paulson also told Handler she is happy not to have children, saying she does not feel equipped for the emotional demands of raising one. She described imagining herself following a child around rather than feeling able to let them enjoy a day outside on their own.