Jessica Lange has reopened an old complaint about FX. Speaking at a PaleyFest NY panel for American Horror Story: 13 on Thursday 8 October, the 77-year-old actress called the network too cheap, using an expletive, and said the cast had been made to drive themselves home after long shoots. The remark drew laughter from the audience and was widely shared after the event.
Lange recalled that the actors would leave set around four or five in the morning and park on a street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Sarah Paulson, who sat beside her on the panel, also remembered the arrangement and laughed while covering her face as Lange spoke. Billie Lourd was among the other cast members on stage. A video of the moment spread quickly online. Paulson and Lange have worked together across several seasons of the anthology.
Lange said the matter is “still a bone of contention for me”, even though it dates back about a decade. Her comments drew attention because they came during her return to the series. Season 13 marks her first appearance in American Horror Story in eight years. She was last seen in Season 8, Apocalypse, and first joined the anthology in its third season, Coven. Her blunt tone was in keeping with her reputation for speaking her mind.
In the new season, Lange reprises her Coven role and also returns to characters from Murder House, Freak Show and Asylum. In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said she had considered coming back if she could play all four characters she created and work with the other actors again. She said Ryan Murphy’s favourite was Constance from Murder House, and that he had talked about bringing the character back. That combination of roles makes this one of her most substantial returns to television.
Lange admitted she changed her mind about never returning to the show, describing it as a repertory company she loved being part of. Her remarks about FX suggest she has not forgotten the less comfortable parts of the job, though her presence in the new season shows the relationship remains intact. Fans have embraced the clip, and her candour has added to interest in the season’s launch. The new season gives viewers a chance to see her play several of her best-known characters again.
