Sarah Paulson has never had it easy on American Horror Story, and that's exactly why she's become a horror legend. From screaming through haunted houses to surviving apocalypses, she's done it all. But Season 13 is shaping up to be her most ambitious feat yet—one that required her to transform into four different people in a single day.
At the Toronto International Film Festival, where she was promoting the film Closing Night, Paulson opened up to Collider about the grueling yet exhilarating experience. She admitted that the production schedule for the new season was as chaotic as the show itself, pushing her to limits she didn't know she had.
“All of it actually, because I'm playing several characters, and some of them very briefly, but I'm playing them,” Paulson said when asked what would shock her Season 1 self. “When you get to that episode or two when that's happening, I basically did that all in one day, so I went back and forth to the trailer to change into four different people, four different wigs, four different costumes, four different personalities, four different people. And that was a day where I was like, ‘Wow, look at me. I'm pretty cool.’”
That kind of shape-shifting is a testament to Paulson's range, which has been on full display throughout the anthology series. She's played heroes, villains, and everything in between, often sharing scenes with herself in past seasons. But this time, the sheer volume of characters in a single day takes the cake.
As if that weren't enough, Paulson was simultaneously filming Ryan Murphy's legal drama All's Fair. Juggling two demanding productions left her brain in a whirlwind, but she wouldn't have it any other way. “It was a pretty nutty time for my brain, but that's all right,” she said. “It means I'm lucky.”
Season 13 of American Horror Story is being billed as a celebration of the franchise's history, with returning stars revisiting fan-favorite characters. The announced lineup includes Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange), Cordelia Goode (Paulson), Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett), Rubber Man, Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), and Kai Anderson (Evan Peters), among other surprises still under wraps.
For fans of Paulson's work, this season promises to be a showcase of her incredible versatility. Whether she's playing a witch, a ghost, or a cult leader, she always brings something fresh. And with four characters in one day, she's proving she's the ultimate horror chameleon.
If you're eager to see Paulson's latest tour de force, mark your calendars. American Horror Story: 13 premieres September 24 on FX and Hulu, with 13 half-hour episodes airing through Halloween. For more from Paulson and her Closing Night co-star Cody Fern, stay tuned to Collider for the full interview.
