American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson’s Sarah Paulson reveals her best acting tips.
Sarah Paulson is one of Hollywood’s most talented TV actresses. She has worked on the American Horror Story franchise and embodied every character with so much detail that you can easily tell that it took time and dedication to perfect. Paulson, who is currently starring in the hit FX series “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” recently talked to the New York Times about playing real-world prosecutor Marcia Clark. Within the story, she discussed acting tips that were pretty amazing, unique and creative.
During the filming of the FX series, Ryan Murphy – the show’s executive producer- told Paulson not to meet with Marcia Clark. But, by the 6th episode, she was given the chance to sit down with the legendary prosecutor.
“I remember her coming through the revolving door, and there was this dappled light coming through the windows, so I couldn’t quite see her face,” Ms. Paulson said. “But I had studied her physical mannerisms so much that I could tell by her walk and her hands, the way she was pushing. And then, of course, the one thing I could see was that mole, illuminated and kissed by the sun.”
“I like it when I don’t recognize myself,”
Paulson then discussed how she learned to walk, talk, and act like Marcia Clark. It all started with perfume.
But six episodes in, she got the green light. By then, she had already asked Ms. Clark, through a mutual acquaintance, what perfume she wore during the 1995 trial (Lancôme’s Magie Noire), then scoured eBay for a vintage specimen and wore it on set, despite its “fecund earthy dirt scent.” (Ms. Clark now wears Acqua di Gio and “smells “much better,” Ms. Paulson added.)
“I like it when I don’t recognize myself,” said the actress, who wears Le Labo’s Musc 25 when she wants to smell like herself.
Paulson argues that she enjoys playing characters that are “survivors.” She says that she related with Marcia Clark because the prosecutor was the victim of so much scrutiny, just like many celebrities and actresses.
“Every time that you go anywhere on the red carpet, now there are websites dedicated to picking you apart, like Tom and Lorenzo or whoever those guys are,” she said. “And they are so mean.”
