More Details on the Characters of American Horror Story: Hotel

Debi Moore |

Aug 7, 2015

Earlier today we learned that “American Horror Story: Hotel” will be premiering on October 7th, and now we have more details on the characters that will be inhabiting said establishment.

During FX’s presentation to the Television Critics Association earlier today, the following was revealed, per Variety:

Co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, along with most of the cast, were on hand, and Murphy said that the idea for this season was inspired by a surveillance video from a Los Angeles-based hotel that surfaced two years ago. The footage showed a girl in an elevator who was never seen again. (He’s no doubt referring to the mysterious death of Elisa Lam). While disclosing that the season will be set in downtown L.A., Murphy said, “We deal with a lot of American horrors, [including] addiction.”

And indeed, Sarah Paulson will play an addict (previously identified as Hypodermic Sally), whom she describes as “quite dark,” “vile,” and “nasty.” Paulson added, “I think she’s sexy. She’s a drug addict — not that drug addicts are sexy, but this girl happened to be quite sexy. She’s unlike anything I’ve done on the show. Really, unlike anything I’ve done anywhere… I live at the hotel; I hate Iris [Kathy Bates] in a rather ancient way for reasons that are revealed quickly. I have a sort of budding relationships with Wes’ [Bentley] character.”

Lady Gaga plays Elizabeth, a “wealthy social doyenne,” Murphy said, adding that she’s “consumed with art and fashion and people, and she has a nefarious plan that is revealed in the first episode.”

When asked about LGBT storylines in Season 5, Murphy confirmed that Gaga’s character is bisexual. “Lady Gaga plays a character who has relationships with Matt [Bomer] and Angela [Bassett] and Cheyenne [Jackson].”

Kathy Bates described her character, Iris: “I run the hotel. I have relationships with Matt Bomer and Wes [Bentley]. And I can’t stand [Sarah Paulson’s character]. I don’t know if I get to work with Angela [Bassett]. I hope.”

Matt Bomer plays Donovan, who is “closely associated with Ms. Gaga, Ms. Bates, and Mr. Wittrock. He has very interesting relationships with ladyfolk in his life, and I’ll just leave it at that.”

Angela Bassett says, “I’m sexy [and] have a strong, long lasting relationship with [Gaga’s character],” adding that she plays Ramona Royale, a fabulous actress who doesn’t live at the hotel but visits often. “I’ll probably be at odds with Donovan [Bomer] — who gets the girl?” she teased of the characters fighting over Gaga.

Finn Wittrock plays a male model named Tristan Duffy who is “always looking for the next high, and he finds the biggest high in Lady Gaga. We have a lot to do together. She sees all of me.”

Chloe Sevigny plays Alex Lowell, the wife of Wes Bentley’s character. She is a mother and a doctor. “We are dealing with a great loss in our family and coming to grips with that among other things,” Sevigny teased.

Wes Bentley plays a detective who is Sevigny’s character’s husband, John, and he’s “investigating some grisly murders, which brings me to the hotel.”

Cheyenne Jackson portrays Drake, “a fashion icon… He’s trying to creatively reestablish himself and moves from New York to L.A. He’s a father and a little desperate.”

Denis O’Hare plays a very intriguing character, whom he describes as “Liz Taylor, movie icon.” The character isn’t actually supposed to be Elizabeth Taylor, but rather someone who is inspired by the films Butterfield 8 and Cleopatra and Taylor’s eye makeup. He explains, “I shaved my head for the part — and other body parts. I work in the hotel and the lounge called Blue Parrot Lounge.”

Falchuk said that O’Hare’s character also falls into the LGBT arena. “I think it [the LGBT issue] dances in a little more this season… part of the fun of it, I think, is when that stuff happens on screen now on television, it’s less of a thing… It doesn’t feel as special — in a good way.”

As for Max Greenfield, per TVLine, Murphy said, “He plays an addict who checks into the hotel and tangles with Sarah Paulson. I said [to him], ‘I have a feeling that you can and want to do something really fucked up.’ And he said, ‘How did you know?’ So he cut off his beautiful hair and dyed it. And I think he’s lost 30 pounds. Yesterday I talked to him, and his waist I think is down to a 27. So he’s really committed to it.” Murphy also noted that “the most disturbing scene we’ve ever done, he’s at the center of,” adding, “He really pushed himself as an actor. I was proud of him.”

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