When it comes to Hollywood romance, age ain't nothing but a number. Ryan Reynolds is 11 years older than his his wife, Blake Lively. Harrison Ford is 22 years older than his wife, Calista Flockhart. And Holland Taylor is 32 years than her girlfriend, Sarah Paulson.
Sarah Paulson, 43, is known for her work on American Horror Story, 12 Years A Slave and The People vs. O.J. Simpson, where she won the Emmy for playing prosecutor Marcia Clark. Holland Taylor, 75, won an Emmy for her role in The Practice, and had memorable parts in Legally Blonde and Two and A Half Men.
Paulson told The New York Times that she met Taylor at a dinner party about a decade ago. At the time, she was dating actress Cherry Jones, who was 18 years her senior, but thought Taylor was "probably the most exquisitely beautiful woman I'd ever seen." A few years later, they crossed paths recording videos for a reproductive rights organization. After sliding into each other's DM's, they went on a dinner date, and the rest is history.
Due to the 32-year age gap, Paulson was wary of making their relationship public. "Early on, when people found out I was with [Taylor], some said, ‘I think you have to be careful, I’m afraid it’s going to affect your career negatively,'" Paulson told The Edit. "I was like, what? It never occurred to me at all... And then I thought, ‘Why would I not?’ The fact I’m having this thought is wrong." In 2016, the pair announced to the world they were dating. Paulson told The New York Times, "What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and the person happens to be Holland Taylor."
On social media, the couple shared their affection for each other, especially during the 2016 Emmy's. Taylor had to stay in New York City for a play, so Paulson attended the event with the real Marcia Clark. On a red carpet interview with E!, she said, "If you’re watching, Holland Taylor, I love you!" Taylor responded on Twitter, saying, "If I'm WATCHING??? YES, I'm watching--!!! good LORD! ... I LOVE you!!!"
Since the couple went public with their relationship, some people have criticized the 32-year age gap, which, let's face it, is pretty big. Now Paulson has clapped back at the critics, in the June issue of Modern Luxury magazine, saying, "If anyone wants to spend any time thinking I’m strange for loving the most spectacular person on the planet, then that’s their problem. I’m doing just fine."
The actress went on, reflecting, "Every once in a while, I'll go, ‘Wow. [I'm 43.] That's seven years shy of 50. That's the big five-oh. But then I go, ‘Stop running seven years down the road. You have no idea what your life will look like and where you'll be.' And that's just what makes life so sweet. You cross your fingers, take a deep breath and jump. And that's really all you can do."
Well said! Have fun, you crazy kids.
In a related story, a teenage bride defends her relationship with man 34 years older who she met online...
