arah Paulson walked into the 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2026, with a young woman by her side, and the internet immediately wanted answers.
The woman in question was Ella Beatty, the 24-year-old daughter of Hollywood royalty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Ella is a rising actress in her own right, and the two arrived together looking very much at ease with each other.
As soon as the photos landed online, fans started debating who Ella looks like, what her presence next to Sarah meant, and where exactly Holland Taylor was.
Stick around: a photo gallery tracing Ella’s journey from a toddler on the red carpet to the poised young actress she is today waits at the end of this piece.
A Red Carpet Appearance That Got Attention
Sarah and Ella attended the 79th Annual Tony Awards in New York City on June 8, 2026, and posed together on the red carpet. Photos from the event showed the pair posing together, holding hands, smiling at one another, and embracing on the red carpet.
The affectionate images quickly spread online, prompting questions from some viewers who were unfamiliar with the actresses’ friendship and professional connection.
Some viewers immediately questioned the nature of their relationship. One person wrote, “New girlfriend?” Another asked, “Okay, wait…….wait, wait, wait, wait, wait……….what happened to Holland?!?”
A third commented, “What?! 👀… Where is Holland Taylor ??” Others were equally puzzled by the photos. Another added, “Oh wow, I thought perhaps the relationship age gap roles had reversed for Sarah!”
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor attend the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2023 in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
“They look in love – What happened with the other older woman – are they not together anymore or are they just in an open relationship now?” one commenter asked.
One Instagram user also remarked, “Sarah Paulson has been in a committed relationship with Taylor Holland since 2015 so I’m surprised she’s showing this much public affection to a co-worker.”
At the same time, other commenters attempted to calm the speculation. “Apparently they’re just close friends,” one person wrote.
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor’s Long Relationship
The online discussion drew renewed attention to Sarah’s long-running relationship with actress Holland Taylor. According to a 2016 interview with The New York Times, news of Sarah and Holland’s relationship became public in late 2015.
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
At the time, Sarah was approaching her 41st birthday, while Holland was 32 years older than her. The actress told the publication that public fascination with her relationships was understandable because her romantic history had not followed conventional expectations.
“What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor,” Sarah said. Before dating Holland, Sarah had been in a seven-year relationship with actress Cherry Jones.
Earlier in her life, she also dated men, including actor and playwright Tracy Letts. Over the years, Sarah and Holland have frequently appeared together at public events, making the Tony Awards photos an immediate topic of discussion among fans.
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor attend the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Fans See Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine
The moment the Tony Awards photos landed, some fans had one mission: figure out who Ella looks like. The debate split almost immediately into two camps.
Several commenters pointed straight to Warren Beatty. “Ella looks very much like her wonderful father,” one fan wrote. Another commented, “Wow Ella is the perfect blend of her gorgeous parents! ❤️❤️.”
A third observed, “Ella looks like both of her parents. Dad’s eyes, mom’s smile. Amazing.” But Warren was not the only family member fans had in mind.
Annette Bening and Warren Beatty attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Many also pointed to Beatty’s older sister, Academy Award-winning actress Shirley MacLaine. “Ella reminds me of her Aunt Shirley 😍,” one person wrote.
Another commenter added, “I can’t tell if [she] looks like mom or a young auntie Shirley.” A Facebook user similarly remarked, “She looks like her Aunt Shirley MacLaine in her younger years of course.”
Elsewhere, another fan simply wrote, “Looks so much like her aunt Shirley MacLaine.”
Shirley MacLaine poses holding a string of pearls alongside a pile of gift-wrapped Christmas presents, circa 1965. | Source: Getty Images
The comparisons quickly became one of the dominant themes of the online conversation, with many saying they could see traces of both Hollywood legends in Ella’s appearance.
The Tony Awards appearance may have introduced Ella Beatty to many viewers, but she has been making public appearances for years. Here’s a look at her transformation from childhood to today.
2004
A young Ella Beatty hits the red carpet way back in 2004, flashing a smile alongside her superstar parents, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, and her siblings at the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
2014
At age 14, Ella Beatty made a public appearance at the opening night of “King Lear” in New York City. Even then, the daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening was beginning to attract attention as she grew up in one of Hollywood’s most famous families.
2016
A star in the making, a teenage Ella Beatty proves she’s always been ready for the spotlight, turning heads in a sleek mini dress at the 2016 AFI Fest screening of her famous mother’s film, “20th Century Women.”
2023
Dressing the part! Ella Beatty looks effortlessly chic in a winter coat and leather boots while on the New York City film set of the Feud TV series in early 2023.
2024
Ella Beatty serves up pure Hollywood sophistication at the star-studded premiere of “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Stunning in a classic black halter dress, the breakout star easily proved she inherited all of her family’s signature charm.
Ella Beatty smiles brightly during the curtain call for her official stage debut in the acclaimed play “Appropriate.” The rising star looked completely in her element as she officially followed her legendary parents into the theater world.
2025
Annette Bening beams next to her daughter Ella Beatty backstage at the Broadway play “Appropriate.” Posing side-by-side, it’s easy to spot the legendary family traits the breakout star inherited from her famous mother.
2026
Ella Beatty poses solo at the awards show, showing off the signature eyes and smile that have fans heavily comparing her to her iconic father, Warren Beatty, and her famous aunt, Shirley MacLaine.
Sarah Paulson and Ella Beatty turn heads and hold hands as they arrive at the 79th Annual Tony Awards. Sarah sports an embroidered top with a bow-accented pink skirt, while Ella coordinates beautifully in a long-sleeved white column gown.
Locked eyes and radiant smiles. The undeniable on-camera chemistry between Sarah Paulson and Ella Beatty instantly set internet comment sections ablaze with relationship rumors.
The incredibly cozy display that sent social media into an absolute frenzy. This affectionate moment between Sarah Paulson and Ella Beatty left shocked onlookers frantically asking, “What happened to Holland?!”
