Holland Taylor Lives Out

From playing Helena Peabody’s sassy, sexually fluid mother on The L Word, to living her own life out and proud at 72

On November 25, Holland Taylor revealed during an interview that she has been in a long-term relationship with another woman. While speaking with WNYC’s Anna Sale, the 72-year-old responded to a question about marriage with, “My relationship is with a woman. Given my generation, [marriage] would not be something that would automatically occur to me. But she’s [her girlfriend] mentioned it because just from a spiritual point of view, from a heart point of view, as a deed that has a very rich symbolic gesture to it.”

Taylor did not reveal the identity of her girlfriend in the interview (it is rumored that she is dating American Horror Story's Sarah Paulson, and while the two have been flirtatious on social media in the past, neither has confirmed the relationship), but she did make it clear that she is a much younger woman, and that the relationship is “the most wonderful, extraordinary thing that could have ever possibly happened in my life.” She also made sure to note that she is not coming out. “No I haven’t come out,” Taylor said, “because I am out. I live out.” 

Although this may be the first time the famously private actress has opened up about her sexuality to the media, her Two and a Half Men character, Evelyn Harper, was bisexual, and we all remember her affair with the female priest as Peggy Peabody on The L Word.

Taylor brought her trademark wit and grace to the WNYC interview, and it’s certainly worth a listen. On why she has not been more vocal publicly about her love life, Taylor clarified, “Most of my relationships have been with women, and I don’t like talking about them because I don’t like talking about the politics of it all. Because I’m not political about it. I think we’re ridiculous in this country about it. Ridiculous.”

Bravo to you, Ms. Taylor, for living just as you are. Peggy Peabody would be proud. 


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