Sarah Paulson Says Criticism Of Her Linda Tripp Performance In “American Crime Story” Was “Hurtful” And “Wrong”

Earlier this year, Sarah Paulson’s portrayal of Linda Tripp on the latest season of American Crime Story — specifically, her wearing a fat suit for the role — drew considerable criticism.

During a recent roundtable interview alongside Cynthia Erivo for The Wrap, Paulson again addressed the criticism surrounding her portrayal of Tripp.

“It did hurt my feelings,” Paulson claimed, “but partly because it felt, as often happens when you’re criticized for your work, but it’s very hard to not personalize.”

“And it’s very hard to not want to say, ‘I just spent two years of my life and then I gained 30 pounds to play this part. I slept, breathed, wept, bled Linda Tripp for two years.”

“So for you to sit down at your computer and decide that this endeavor was maybe not worthwhile, and that maybe I shouldn’t have been the one to play it, it’s so hurtful and also wrong.”

This isn’t the first time that Paulson’s defended her portrayal of Tripp.

“It’s very hard for me to talk about this without feeling like I’m making excuses,” Paulson told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year. “There’s a lot of controversy around actors and fat suits, and I think that controversy is a legitimate one. I think fatphobia is real…I would like to believe that there is something in my being that makes me right to play this part.”