What Sarah Paulson And Holland Taylor’s Body Language Says About Their Relationship
An expert unpacks their every move.
In a rare occurrence in the celebrity news sphere, when Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor revealed they were in a relationship, the public response was notably positive (exhibits A, B, and C). Two mega-stars are dating, and despite a 35-year age gap, for the most part everyone was here for it. As they should have been.
Now, five years into the relationship, a rare sighting of the two is pretty much guaranteed to make its way onto your feed because the people are hungry for more.
The intense interest in her romantic life caught Holland by surprise. “I was blindsided by the reaction to it,” she told InStyle. "I'm from an older generation and for me it's quite surprising how people talk about personal things of any kind in the press. It's not natural to me. That doesn't mean it's not good, it's just taken some adjusting.”
While the couple remains mostly private, they slowly began offering details here and there about what happens behind closed doors. Sarah gave Holland a shoutout in her 2016 Emmy Awards acceptance speech and she celebrates their age difference when she’s asked about it (which is always). And Holland routinely gushes over Sarah in interviews saying, "I can't talk about my life today and not mention this wonderful love.” And then there’s Twitter—where Holland first slid into Sarah’s DMs in 2015—and where, since making things official, the couple has basically constructed virtual shrines to each other.
And sure, you could sustain your need for details about this romance by inspecting the couple’s tweets, but why put in all that work when a body language expert could just clue you in on exactly what’s going on? Ahead, Karen Donaldson analyzes Sarah and Holland’s moves over the years and reveals just how much they mean to each other.
Intimacy has never been an issue.
The lack of space between Sarah and Holland's bodies is a big indicator that this couple has a strong intimate connection, says Donaldson. Physical closeness like this points to trust between two people. It means Sarah and Holland don't have any walls up in their relationship and they don't shy away from being vulnerable since they're confident that they're being loved for all that they are.
Plus, it doesn't hurt that they're staring at each other like they're the only two people on the planet.
Sarah’s protective of the relationship.
"This stance, where one person is standing in front of another, often means the person in front tends to take the lead in the relationship," says Donaldson, but that's not the case here.
What stands out to her is Sarah's body language. Her light grip on Holland's arm "signals protectiveness on [Sarah's] part." Not only is she protective of Holland but she means to shield their relationship as a whole from anyone who doesn't support it.
Being together’s easy for Sarah and Holland.
They're synchronized in every way. Donaldson immediately notices the way the couple walks in step, maintains eye contact, and even wear their bags the same way. "It tells us that they are completely in tune with each other and a solid unit," says Donaldson. "Natural mirroring in relationships tells us there is an easiness and high level of comfort with each other."
They might be private, but they’ve got nothing to hide.
"The way in which Holland holds Sarah's hand with both of hers, is in an endearing gesture," says Donaldson. "It tells us that she adores Sarah and wants the world to know."
Sure, holding hands is common among couples, but it's considered a romantic move for a reason. "Caressing of the hand releases the hormone, oxytocin, which relaxes us and deepens feelings of trust," Donaldson points out. PDA like this tells her that Sarah and Holland are confident in the strength of their bond and they don't care who knows it.
They’re proud of what they have together.
Once again, Holland's standing in front of Sarah while Sarah keeps a hand on Holland. And once again, Donaldson is picking up on Sarah's protectiveness.
But one other thing she picks up on this time around is their confidence. Sarah and Holland are looking straight into the camera, shoulders back. This body language, says Donaldson, means the couple doesn't let outside chatter dictate anything about their relationship. They know they're solid and that's all that matters.
They’re always thinking about each other.
"Although [Holland's] attention is elsewhere," says Donaldson, Sarah is gazing lovingly at her. "It’s a signal of high attraction," she adds. Another good sign is their stances. Both their bodies are turned inward toward the other which tells Donaldson, that despite the hoard of cameras they're surrounded by on this red carpet, their minds are on each other.
And lastly, there's Holland's hand around Sarah's waist. This is a signal of the care and comfort Holland makes sure she shows Sarah, Donaldson adds.
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