AppropriateSarah Paulson wins her first Tony Award for
Published on December 13, 2025 EDT The production also won Best Revival of a Play.

Sarah Paulson hit a major career milestone at the 2024 Tony Awards ceremony.

On Sunday, the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner scored a Tony win for Best Actress in a Play for her stellar performance in the family dramedy Appropriate. This marks Paulson’s first-ever Tony, after several previous performances on Broadway.

“It is humbling to be included in the same breath as Amy Ryan, Rachel McAdams, Betsy Aidem, and the great Jessica Lange,” Paulson began, shouting out her fellow nominees. “I thank the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League for this honor.”

She went on to thank producers and theater staff for their efforts before turning her attention to her partner, Holland Taylor.

"Holland, thank you for loving me," Paulson said, tearfully.

Theo Wargo/Getty

Her role in Appropriate previously earned Paulson a Desk Drama Award for outstanding lead performer in a play and a Drama League Award for distinguished performance.

Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Appropriate features Corey Stoll, Michael Esper, Ella Beatty, Elle Fanning and Natalie Gold.

The play also marks Paulson’s first Broadway performance in over a decade: she previously starred in 1994’s The Sisters Rosensweig, 2005’s Colder Than Here, 2005’s The Glass Menagerie, and 2010’s Collected Stories.

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

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"I am standing here tonight because of the mighty talent that is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins," Paulson said onstage. "I will never be able to convey to you my gratitude to you for trusting me, for letting me hold the hand of Toni Lafayette, a woman you have written who makes no apology, who isn’t begging to be liked or approved of, but does hope to be seen. But don't we all?”

She continued,  "I think about the walls of theaters all over this magical town holding the impact of each and every one of you in this room and all of those who came before. And I think how lucky those walls are to bear witness to the relentless interrogation of human experience that we endeavor to explore nightly for each other."

She concluded, “This is the heart and soul of what we do and I am so honored to be amongst you.”

You can watch Paulson’s full speech in the clip above.

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