Sarah Paulson turns head in a dramatic plunging leather ensemble while Reese Witherspoon slips into a tiny black dress... as actors gather for pre-Emmy party in Beverly Hills

By ANDREW BULLOCK FOR MAILONLINE

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She's playing a hysterical restaurant owner with a phobia of clowns and small holes on American Horror Story: Cult.

But Sarah Paulson was a far cry from her current AHS persona on the macabre anthology series as she oozed cool confidence at a CAA pre-Emmy party in Beverly Hills.

The sultry actress, 42, wore a plunging black leather top, with dramatically puffed shoulders.

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A flair for the dramatics: Sarah Paulson, 42, wore a plunging black leather top, with dramatically puffed shoulders

A flair for the dramatics: Sarah Paulson, 42, wore a plunging black leather top, with dramatically puffed shoulders

The daring top showcased the star's porcelain complexion, with a touch of make-up applied to her face.

Wearing her shortly-cropped brunette locks loosely she added a dash of mascara to her eyes, some rouge on her cheeks and a dark pink tone to her pout. 

Finishing off the look, she added a pair of gold hoop earrings as accessories. 

She was among the finest of Hollywood's stars, with Reese Witherspoon slipping into a halter-neck black dress with a layered zig-zag detailing to to the neckline.

Sultry: Wearing her shortly-cropped brunette locks loosely Sarah added a dash of mascara to her eyes, some rouge on her cheeks and a dark pink tone to her pout [pictured with Andy Garcia, Daniella Garcia-Lorido]

Sultry: Wearing her shortly-cropped brunette locks loosely Sarah added a dash of mascara to her eyes, some rouge on her cheeks and a dark pink tone to her pout [pictured with Andy Garcia, Daniella Garcia-Lorido]

Hollywood trio: Reese Witherspoon, Maha Dakhil and Laura Dern were seen in eye-catching dresses

Hollywood trio: Reese Witherspoon, Maha Dakhil and Laura Dern were seen in eye-catching dresses

Buddies: Lauren Dern co-starred alongside Reese in Big Little Lies, as well as Shailene Woodley and Nicole Kidman

Buddies: Lauren Dern co-starred alongside Reese in Big Little Lies, as well as Shailene Woodley and Nicole Kidman

Big night: The cast of the popular mini-series are tipped to present an award at the 69th TV Emmy Awards, which take place in LA on Sunday night [pictured with Geoffrey Rush]

Big night: The cast of the popular mini-series are tipped to present an award at the 69th TV Emmy Awards, which take place in LA on Sunday night [pictured with Geoffrey Rush]

The tiny LBD showed off the petite actress' pins as she paired the ensemble with black strapped heels.

Reese lightly curled her blonde locks in waves and wore her mane loose, as she added a pink splash to her lips and a hint of blue shadowing around her eyes.

The party also saw the likes of Lauren Dern - the latter Reese co-starred alongside in Big Little Lies, as well as Shailene Woodley and Nicole Kidman.

The cast of the popular mini-series are tipped to present an award at the 69th TV Emmy Awards, which take place in LA on Sunday night.

Catch up: British stars Helen Mirren and Geoffrey Rush caught up at the party

Catch up: British stars Helen Mirren and Geoffrey Rush caught up at the party

Coupling up: Laura Dern posed for a snap with Kevin Bacon and his Kyra Sedgwick
Coupling up: Laura Dern posed for a snap with Kevin Bacon and his Kyra Sedgwick

Coupling up: Laura Dern posed for a snap with Kevin Bacon and his Kyra Sedgwick

Glammed up: Hilaria Baldwin and Alec Baldwin nipped in to the glitzy event

Glammed up: Hilaria Baldwin and Alec Baldwin nipped in to the glitzy event

Fancy: Geoffrey Rush and Tracee Ellis Ross glammed themselves up for the party
Fancy: Geoffrey Rush and Tracee Ellis Ross glammed themselves up for the party

Fancy: Geoffrey Rush and Tracee Ellis Ross glammed themselves up for the party

High praise: Both Reese and Nicole are up for the Best Actress gong on the evening too. Big Little Lies, which is supposedly coming back for a second season by popular demand, is up for 13 awards and won another three at the Creative Arts Emmys earlier this month [Laura and Reese are pictured with David E. Kelley and Ava DuVernay]

High praise: Both Reese and Nicole are up for the Best Actress gong on the evening too. Big Little Lies, which is supposedly coming back for a second season by popular demand, is up for 13 awards and won another three at the Creative Arts Emmys earlier this month [Laura and Reese are pictured with David E. Kelley and Ava DuVernay]

Dapper: Tom Ford and Stanley Tucci were also in attendance

Dapper: Tom Ford and Stanley Tucci were also in attendance

Both Reese and Nicole are up for the Best Actress gong on the evening too.

Big Little Lies, which is supposedly coming back for a second season by popular demand, is up for 13 awards and won another three at the Creative Arts Emmys earlier this month.

The series sees the actresses play a group of mothers living in a coastal California town, all of which embroiled in their own scandal, and brought together at the end when one of their dramatic secrets reaches a climax.

Nicole and Reese produced the series, based on the book by Liane Moriarty.

Hit show: Big Little Lies sees the actresses play a group of mothers living in a coastal California town, all of which embroiled in their own scandal, and brought together at the end when one of their dramatic secrets reaches a climax. Nicole and Reese produced the series, based on the book by Liane Moriarty

Hit show: Big Little Lies sees the actresses play a group of mothers living in a coastal California town, all of which embroiled in their own scandal, and brought together at the end when one of their dramatic secrets reaches a climax. Nicole and Reese produced the series, based on the book by Liane Moriarty

Producer powerhouse: Jerry Bruckheimer and wife Linda attended the CAA Pre-Emmy party at Bouchon, Beverly Hills

Producer powerhouse: Jerry Bruckheimer and wife Linda attended the CAA Pre-Emmy party at Bouchon, Beverly Hills

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