Sarah Paulson Talks ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith,’ Comedy, and Pedro Pascal’s Help

Sarah Paulson is having a great day when we discuss her recent Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. “My dogs poop everywhere, so let’s just pretend it’s normal,” she says, moving around her living room on Zoom.

It was a dog — and Paulson’s natural wit — that led her to play the role of anonymous therapist to John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) Smith in the Prime Video series when she found herself in close proximity to Glover last year. Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

“Somebody had their dog, and I’m obsessed with dogs, and Donald was there, and I was talking a little bit about the dog, I was talking about how fabulous it was to be there. Vanity Fair “He was partying and laughing at me,” Paulson recalled. Later, Glover asked Pedro Pascal for Paulson’s number.

“I told him, ‘You can give Donald Glover anything he wants from me,'” Paulson told Pascal. “You can give him everything, give him my address, my email, you can give him my firstborn child that I’ll never have, you can take everything.”

Three days later, Glover texted Paulson to say he wanted her to take a look at the script for Episode 6 of the spy series and that she could play the therapist if she wanted. Paulson readily agreed: “Donald Glover calls, and if you know what this is about, you say yes.”

What were your first thoughts when you read the script?

The funny thing is, I’m a guest actress on a drama, but my parts on the show are funny. I remember being a little surprised that it was in the drama category, but I think it’s because my episode and my scenes had a comedic element to them, and the rest of the show didn’t. It walks that fine line between comedy and drama, so when something serious happens, it kind of grabs you by the throat. And when something funny happens, you’re like, “Wait a minute, am I allowed to laugh?”

What was your approach to the character? Did you look Couples therapy in preparation?

Oh, first of all, I’m a Couples therapy weird. I love that show. The other thing that was so cool about Donald is that since I did Linda Tripp in IndictmentI worked with this woman named Julia Crockett, who helped me create a character from the outside in, sort of taking the character’s things that happen in the text and making them real. I worked with her throughout Appropriateand I’m convinced that’s why I won the Tony because she made my work incredibly rewarding. So I sent Donald a message, like, “Look, I know I’m only here for one episode, but I’m working with this woman, and that means she’s usually on set and I don’t want to do that if you don’t agree.” And he said, “I’m a real theater person at heart; bring whoever you want who makes you feel good…