Holland Taylor praises Sarah Paulson in Hollywood Walk of Fame speech: ‘A shining star’

Sarah Paulson has been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with her partner Holland Taylor giving a reverent speech about her character and their relationship.

Paulson, known for her work across stage and both the big and small screen including American Horror Story and Carol, was honoured with the 2,829th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday morning (2 December).

When it was announced in November that Paulson would be getting a star on Hollywood Boulevard many fans said the same thing: it is long overdue for an actor with such an extensive catalogue of quality projects.

The multi-award winning and nominated actor’s star was presented alongside speeches from Taylor, 82, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip star Amanda Peet.

Taylor and Paulson have been in a relationship since 2015 and have often been described as couple goals for their power couple energy and long list of achievements.

“Sarah, the actress, is first of all a wild creature in the animal kingdom. Warm blooded, instinctive, mysterious,” Holland said during her speech at the unveiling ceremony. “She is alert, nose to the breeze. She is fast, oh my God, super fast.

“And Sarah is dangerous — trust me in this — not dangerous like a snake, more like a mongoose,” she joked. “You know, those darling furry, little creatures that kill snakes.”

Taylor went on to say you “can’t always know what will delight Sarah, or make her mad”, adding: “And there’s the adventure you always wanted your life to be.”

View this post on Instagram

“Nothing interferes with her laser perception of her character’s traits, its habitat, vulnerabilities, its heroism, its ugliness, terrible truths, its comic pathos,” she continued. “She zeros in to a story’s central struggle, where most of us aren’t even aware of our own.”

Taylor described Paulson as “operating on multiple levels at once”, “an analyst” and said her acting is as “honest as a vow of faith, and as complicated a chemistry”, with her “secret skill” as a performer being her “own humanity”.

“She is not deceiving us,” Taylor said of Paulson’s ability to inhabit a character, “she is practicing magic.”

During her speech, Taylor said whilst many attending the ceremony have known Paulson for years and know, as she does, “the mongoose, the snake”: “We all know the warning signs, we all know velocity of an upset going nuclear but – mostly – we know the deeply understanding, loving and loyal person who is safety itself.”

Taylor praised Paulson for her personal relationships, including “many deep, long friendships, and her love for her extended family”.

“Truth to tell, it is these relationships where Sarah is most complex, dedicated and giving.

“Sometimes it’s hard to believe she’s an actress. She breaks the mold, throws assumptions out the window, does it her way. She will always surprise us. Hollywood does well to honour her.”

“And just in case she doesn’t know it, she has a permanent shining star on my street. I love you, darling,” she concluded.

In her own speech, Paulson spoke of her love for Taylor and as well as her close friends and collaborators.

“To the three perfect people who spoke today – Amanda, my bird, my best friend of over 25 years; Holland, my love and greatest champion; and Ryan, the man who changed my life – I will be forever indebted to all of you for taking the time to be here today.

“And, most significantly, for being in my life so robustly, for always telling me the truth and loving me when it’s not always easy to do.”

Commenting on Paulson’s star, Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer said: “The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud and excited to welcome Sarah Paulson to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

“Sarah’s remarkable career and artistry have left an indelible mark on both television and film,” Martinez added.

“It’s especially meaningful that her star is located right next to that of her friend and longtime collaborator, Ryan Murphy,” added Martinez.