Sarah Paulson Is Checking Into ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’

Sarah Paulson is almost as synonymous with American Horror Story as Jessica Lange has been in past seasons, but with the exception that, unlike Lange, Ms. Paulson will be returning in American Horror Story: Hotel. Sarah has just joined the cast for the fifth season of American Horror Story, an addition that has undoubtedly thrilled series creator Ryan Murphy.

“She’s the baddest girl of them all,” Mr. Murphy tweeted of Paulson joining the cast.

Ms. Paulson herself is equally enthusiastic about her addition to the new American Horror Story cast, particularly for the variety she finds in each season’s performances.

“It doesn’t get stale. It’s a very exciting way to work. I’d love to be on a TV show for seven years, but putting on the same suit every day for seven years might piss me off. I could never have dreamed up the characters I’ve played on this.”

Ms. Paulson began her American Horror Story career in the first season, commonly known as Murder House, appearing in only three episodes in a guest-starring role as Billie Dean Howard, the psychic hired by Constance (Jessica Lange). Paulson was brought back again in a larger role in American Horror Story: Asylum and, from that second season on, she has remained a large part of American Horror Story‘s success.

Ryan Murphy keeps Ms. Paulson very busy these days. Sarah is also playing Marcia Clark in American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson, but her first love will always be American Horror Story.

“My focus will always be on American Horror Story for as long as he’ll have me… I have never felt so completely seen by another director or producer or person before in terms of his willingness time and time again to give me something to do that I didn’t even think I was capable of doing. I don’t know why in the world I’d want to go elsewhere when I’m getting the best deal in town. I absolutely want to do season five.”

Additionally, Ms. Paulson has been nominated for two Emmys for her work on American Horror Story.

There’s no word yet on the exact role Paulson will be filling on American Horror Story, but Mr. Murphy’s tweet does reveal that Sarah will be playing a villain this time around. That’s saying quite a bit, considering that very few American Horror Story characters could be considered good in the strictest sense of the word. Most, if not all, of American Horror Story‘s characters exhibit questionable morals at the very least. It will be interesting to see Ms. Paulson fill a truly evil character’s role, since her past characters have all been the best of a bad bunch.

Sarah Paulson will join fellow cast members Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, Kathy Bates, Chloe Sevigny, Wes Bentley, and Cheyenne Jackson, when American Horror Story: Hotel premieres this fall on FX.