Netflix released the final season of Ryan Murphy“Monster” installment series, “The Lizzie Borden Story,” in September 2026. Sarah Paulson playing the accused, Allan Wuornoscausing many to compare her performance with Charlize TheronIn the 2003 film “Monster”, where she also faced the character. Now, in a new interview, the “American Horror Story” actress responds.
Sarah Paulson criticizes comparisons with Charlize Theron
The “American Horror Story” star appeared on the “Shut Up Evan” podcast in September 2026 and accepted the wide range of opinions about her portrayal of Wuornos in “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.” In particular, she admitted that some thought her character was “great” while others felt it was “not as good” as Theron’s early 2000s.
According to her, “This is just a weird thing where it is, I didn’t set out to do something better than Charlize Theron.
Afterwards, she further congratulated her co-star, saying, “This is the most glorious show in the world.”
Paulson doesn’t understand why some people have decided not to watch ‘monster’ because of Charlize Theron
Paulson continued on the podcast, responding to those who refuse to see her portrayal of Wuornos because they love Theron’s 2003 film. In particular, she compared the situation to the theater, where the actors are expected to make their own character.
She said, “I’ve seen a lot of productions of ‘Death of a Salesman,’ and I’m so glad I saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but I’m just as glad I saw Nathan Lane. I don’t sit there and go, ‘Well, that was worthy, and this one isn’t.'”
The actress continued, “For me, acting knowledge, acting art, is the study of human behavior through our personal experience and through your personal interpretation.”
Afterward, in defense of her work for the series, Paulson said, “So this is my interpretation of Aileen Wuornos based on the research I’ve done and based on my personality and how it comes out through me. It’s not an attempt to do something like anyone else has ever done.”
She went on to say that she knew from the moment Murphy asked her to play the role that there would be comparisons to Theron. However, she “wants[ed] try.”
‘Monster: The Lizzy Borden Story’ was panned by critics
Netflix released the eight episodes of Murphy’s “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” on September 17, with Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie Borden. So far, despite strong viewership, the show has failed to please fans or critics.
It currently sits at an unimpressive 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 28 reviews from official critics. Unfortunately, audiences appreciate the season even less, with only a positive rating of 34%. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is the second-worst reviewed in the series, with the worst going to last year’s “The Ed Gein Story,” which only garnered a 22% positive rating.
However, the highest rating of the four seasons is still the first one, “The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” from 2022, with a 57% rating on the platform.
Sarah Paulson is currently starring in another Ryan Murphy show, ‘American Horror Story’
Paulson returned to “American Horror Story” for its currently airing 13th season, which premiered with three episodes on Sept. 24 on FX and Hulu. This marks her first appearance on the show since its 10th season in 2021.
The new season will find the award-winning actress playing several of the departed characters from the beloved franchise, including favorite Cordelia Goode. Before the premiere, Paulson spoke to The Wrap, saying, “I love being Cordelia. I feel like, of all the stuff I have to do on the show, being weird is the hardest because she’s really moving from a place of basic goodness and wanting to be a support system for the young women in her life.”
She continued, “It’s always a little wilder to play the crazier characters, so it’s a little harder to play someone who might be a little more normal.”
The actress is still busy in Hollywood
After “Monster” and “American Horror Story: 13,” Paulson will return for another Murphy project, season two of Hulu’s “All’s Fair.” The show returns on November 5. According to Deadline, Paulson will also return to Broadway in “Small Mouth Sounds,” which will begin previews in February 2027 before premiering in March.
She has another film, “Closing Night,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026.