Sarah Paulson is sharing her admiration for longtime friend Amanda Peet after the actress opened up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life. The 51-year-old took to Instagram on March 21 to spotlight Peet’s deeply personal essay, encouraging others to read the piece that moved her so profoundly.
In her essay, Peet opened up with striking honesty about the difficult months that followed her breast cancer diagnosis. Published in The New Yorker on March 21, the “Your Friends & Neighbors” actress shared her diagnosis while reflecting on a period shaped by overlapping grief, as she navigated her own health fears while both of her parents were in hospice care on opposite coasts.
Sarah Paulson Calls Amanda Peet’s Cancer Essay ‘Profoundly Gorgeous’
Paulson highlighted Peet’s willingness to share a deeply personal and vulnerable moment with honesty and grace.
“My best friend, Amanda Peet … has written the most profoundly gorgeous essay about the loss of her parents, while dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis,” Paulson wrote.
“@newyorkermag has published it today, and I’m screaming from the rooftops with joy. I hope you all take the time to read it.”
GettyShe added, “If you are running around and doing other stuff, I did the audio recording, and you can listen to me try to do the piece justice. My friend is a @newyorkermag essayist. How outrageously groovy is that? Bird, I love you beyond.”
Sarah Paulson-Amanda Peet’s Decades-Long Friendship Remains One of Hollywood’s Closest Bonds
GettyThe duo share a friendship that feels rare in Hollywood, shaped by more than 25 years of laughter, loyalty, and unwavering support.
The two met in their 20s on the set of “Jack & Jill” in 1999 and instantly connected, forming a bond that only grew stronger with time.
Over the years, their relationship has extended far beyond work, with Paulson present for some of Peet’s most personal milestones, including the birth of her children.
They have also reunited professionally, including on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” while continuing to celebrate each other’s achievements, most recently when Peet delivered a heartfelt speech at Paulson’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
What began as an effortless connection has evolved into a lasting friendship rooted in shared history, deep trust, and a constant presence in each other’s lives.
Celebrities Rally Around Amanda Peet’s Story
Paulson’s post quickly drew a wave of support from fellow actors, many of whom praised Peet’s writing and shared their reactions.
Eric Dane’s Wife and star Rebecca Gayheart wrote: “It was beautifully done and such a brave move. You ladies have been friends for as long as I can remember — what a special duo you are . It’s not easy to share such personal stories. Bravo, bravo !”
“Going to read now!!” Naomi Watts commented, while Rose Byrne revealed she had already “read [the essay] this morning” and called it “so extraordinary.”
Ali Wentworth also weighed in, describing it as “a beautifully written piece” and adding, “All too familiar. Give Amanda a huge hug for me!”
Amanda Peet Opens Up About Breast Cancer Diagnosis
GettyIn her lengthy and powerful essay, Peet, 54, shared that she was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer “last fall,” at a time when her life was already filled with uncertainty.
“For many years, I’ve been told that I have ‘dense’ and ‘busy’ breasts — not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring,” she wrote.
“I had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups. The Friday before Labor Day, I went for what I thought would be a routine scan.”
That visit quickly took a different turn. After her doctor raised concerns, Peet underwent a biopsy that revealed two tumors, one of which was benign.
She later learned her cancer was “hormone-receptor-positive” and “HER2-negative,” bringing clarity to a diagnosis that arrived during an already difficult chapter.
Grief and Healing Intertwined During Family Loss
GettyAs she waited for answers about her diagnosis, Peet was also preparing to say goodbye to both of her parents.
“Our parents, long divorced, were both in hospice, on opposite coasts,” she wrote. “Our mother’s had started in June, but our father’s was only a week in, so we hadn’t expected him to go first.”
She rushed to New York but arrived just after her father had passed.
“I didn’t make it before my father took his last breath, but I got to see his body before it was taken from his apartment.”
Peet later returned to Los Angeles, where she received encouraging news about her health. She had her first “clear scan” shortly before her mother’s death in January.
In her essay, she reflects on holding grief and healing side by side, a deeply personal experience that has resonated with readers and those close to her.
Read Amanda Peet’s deeply personal essay for The New Yorker on her cancer battle and family grief here.
