Holland Taylor Explains Why She Prefers Not to Collaborate Professionally with Sarah Paulson

A Clear Boundary on Professional Collaboration

Holland Taylor has made it clear that she has little desire to blend her professional life with her romantic life by sharing the screen with her long-term partner, Sarah Paulson. During a recent appearance on the SiriusXM program Bevelations, the 83-year-old actress explained that the prospect of working together simply does not resonate with them.

“We don’t find that a very appealing idea,” Taylor stated. “A number of people have asked us, because we say this is kind of weird. I mean, I don’t know. It’s just very, very weird.”

Prioritizing Personal Dynamics

The conversation was prompted by host Bevy Smith, who noted that many high-profile couples—such as Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee or Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward—have historically collaborated on projects. However, Taylor remains firm in her stance. Reflecting on comments she made to Variety earlier in 2024, she reiterated that she finds it difficult to ignore the "coupledom" of actors when they perform together on screen, which detracts from the performance itself.

Despite their professional separation, the couple—who have been together for 11 years—frequently support one another in public. Recently, they appeared together at the premiere of Taylor’s Apple TV+ series, Brothers, and Paulson was by Taylor's side when she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

An Unconventional Relationship

The couple, who share an age gap of nearly 32 years, has often described their lifestyle as "unconventional." A key element of their dynamic is maintaining separate residences. As Paulson shared on the Smartless podcast in 2024:

“We don’t live together, that’s the sort of secret. Holland and I, we spend plenty of time together, but we don’t live in the same house.”

Despite not sharing a home, Paulson noted that they prioritize intimacy in their daily routines, explaining, “We like to fall asleep holding hands, Holland and I. We sleep holding hands.”

Views on Marriage

In addition to maintaining professional boundaries, the pair has expressed that marriage is not a priority for them. During a 2024 interview with Andy Cohen on Radio Andy, Taylor noted that the concept of marriage does not hold the same significance for them as it does for others. She clarified, “We’ve never talked about it with any interest... We would [get married] if we wanted to.”