How American Horror Story Changed Jessica Lange
"American Horror Story" is one of the most influential television shows in the past decade. With its blend of mystery, avant-garde filmmaking, and impeccable casting, "AHS" has proven time and time again to be a hit amongst audiences. Boasting famous cast members including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, and Kathy Bates, the anthology series has seen a revolving door of incredible talent over the years.
But although those names are near and dear to the hearts of the "AHS" faithful, there's one actor who arguably stands above the rest — Jessica Lange. Lange, who appeared in Season 1 through Season 4 of the series, exemplified on-screen brilliance with her burning passion for acting. From the sniveling neighbor in Constance Langdon to the embattled Fiona Goode, Lange has a penchant for playing villainous characters. But in playing them, she managed to tug at the heartstrings of viewers in a way that ultimately allows for sympathy — making her an absolute fan favorite.
For those who have seen the series, you're probably familiar with how emotionally draining and taxing it can be to sit through. From random deaths to shocking plot twists, the show has a way of playing upon your mental state, and no actor does it greater than Lange herself — though it took her to lengths previously thought unimaginable.
Jessica Lange joined 'American Horror Story' at a tumultuous time in her life
"American Horror Story" first burst on the scene in 2011 with "Murder House." As this was Season 1, it had many kinks to be ironed out and certainly wasn't the most popular (Rotten Tomatoes called it "convoluted yet effective"), but it definitely helped set the tone for future seasons. What the season lacked in focus was made up for with top-tier acting — with one of the brightest stars of the show being Jessica Lange.
Portraying the annoying neighbor Constance Langdon, Lange's role came at a difficult point in her life. Speaking to Gold Derby in 2019, Lange revealed she initially "had no idea what I was in for." She continued, "When [series creator] Ryan [Murphy] first called me about that character and about doing the show, it was a very difficult time in my personal life because I had come to the end of a 30-year relationship and I was completely disoriented."
The style of work was something Lange "had never done before" and noted that "You never had time to prepare. You never knew where your character was going. You never knew the next scripts, when you were even going to get it." She would ultimately reprise the character for Season 8, "Apocalypse." In getting into Langdon's headspace once more, Lange told Deadline that "I never watch anything I do" and that "I couldn't remember ... the specific accent, the mannerisms, behavior, the way she looked."
She enjoyed the 'chaos and madness' of 'American Horror Story'
If you thought "American Horror Story" is intense on-screen, imagine what it was like behind the scenes. In her interview with Gold Derby, Jessica Lange offered some insight into the backstage rumblings of "AHS" and how the arduous film process challenged her acting ability. "It was really hard work and it was incredibly long hours and it was chaos and madness half the time, but there was an energy to it and the four characters that I played," Lange told the outlet, adding that "It was fun to do [and] I was taking something to the limit."
Lange also revealed that she would sometimes receive scripts the morning of shooting, which "forced me to work in a way with complete and total abandon." She noted that "for that moment in my life, it was exactly what I needed," given that she had just finished that aforementioned 30-year relationship and began writing a new chapter of her life. Luckily it panned out, as Lange established herself as a powerful actor for a younger generation several decades into her career.
Lange ultimately earned five Emmy nominations and two wins for "AHS" — both for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie. In relation to her "AHS" wins, she nabbed the prestigious award in 2012 for her role as Constance Langdon in "Murder House" before running it back once more in 2014 for her role as Fiona Goode in "Coven."