Here’s your first look at Sarah Paulson as Nurse Ratched

Sarah Paulson is ready to play another iconic figure, only this time the person she’s portraying might not be as sympathetic to audiences. The actress, who famously showed the world another side of prosecuting attorney Marcia Clark in American Crime Story, is getting her evil on by stepping into the villainous role of Nurse Ratched.Ratched will be the latest series from creator Ryan Murphy when it makes its debut on Netflix this fall. The eight-part series (which has already been renewed for a second season), takes a deeper look at the life of Mildred Ratched in 1947 Northern California, years before the character meets one R.P. McMurphy in the Oscar-winning film and Ken Kesey novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In the 1975 classic, Louise Fletcher played the role in an Oscar-winning performance opposite Jack Nicholson, who also pocketed a trophy for his take on McMurphy. Danny DeVito and Peter Brocco also starred.On July 29 Netflix finally released some first-look photos of the star-studded series, which also features Sharon Stone, Finn Wittrock, Sophie Okonedo, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Jon Briones, Charlie Carver, Judy Davis, Harriet Harris, Cynthia Nixon, Hunter Parrish, Amanda Plummer and Corey Stoll. But it’s Paulson that everyone has been dying to see in the leading role, as the character is widely considered one of the greatest female characters in cinematic history. In the photos Paulson doesn’t disappoint as she wears that famous Nurse Ratched hairstyle, along with a cap and a stern look on her face. “In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind,” the official show synopsis reads. “On a clandestine mission, Mildred presents herself as the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred’s stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born.”Shortly after the photos were released fans took to social media to share all of their thoughts and excitement, as people tend to do in situations like these.

SARAH PAULSON AS NURSE RATCHED LOOKS SO GOOD SHUT UP IM SHAKING pic.twitter.com/ZLTkGr9HS9

— ً⚢ (@sarahpaulsbean) July 29, 2020

Sarah Paulson as Nurse Ratched is coming❤️?? pic.twitter.com/xlJ67eN2Ys

— maria ʬ⁸⁴ (@beanpaulson_) July 29, 2020

If Sarah Paulson isn’t among your favorite actresses yet, imagine her playing Nurse Ratched in a noir-looking story worthy of Hitchcock. Cannot look away! Total girl crush@MsSarahPaulson https://t.co/c8T0LwsBH7

— Mary Karr, Author (@marykarrlit) July 29, 2020

IS IT TOO SOON TO DRAW NURSE RATCHED ?? IDC IM CURRENTLY PICKING A PENCIL

— ???????? ?☆ ??? (@sallysanctuary) July 29, 2020

In an interview with Vanity Fair Paulson revealed that she identified “deeply” with the iconic character. “I think ultimately, at the end of the day, that is sort of what drives Mildred: a pursuit of survival and of finding some sense of home,” she told the publication. “Even though the methods that she chooses to achieve that internal security are somewhat questionable, I would argue that she’s doing them with a potentially selfish need, but a survival need nevertheless. Sort of an animal need that blinds her to the inappropriateness of some her actions.”The 45-year-old actress is also known for shows like American Horror Story, Mrs. America, and basically everything else Ryan Murphy does. She was also a player in the 2019 Nicole Kidman flick The Goldfinch, and she starred in the 2018 female-centric Ocean’s 8 alongside Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. Although she’s been nominated for several Emmys over her career, Paulson’s take on Marcia Clark in the dramatized retelling of the O.J. Simpson trial in American Crime Story is what earned her a win in 2016. Fittingly, she brought the real-life Clark as her date to the show that year.Meanwhile, Ratched is the latest Netflix-Ryan Murphy collaboration. The creator, who previously crafted series for FX under a deal for that network, also recently debuted The Politician and Hollywood on the streaming service.[video_embed id='2002947']Before you go: Sandra Bullock celebrates her 56th birthday with social distancing party[/video_embed]