15 Best American Horror Story Cast Members
9. Kathy Bates
Academy Award winner Kathy Bates made her American Horror Story debut in Coven as the wicked, racist murderer and socialite Delphine LaLaurie.
Watching her interact with Jessica Lange through the season proved to be a match made in heaven, and despite her genuine off-screen likability, Bates proved to be just as unhinged and terrifying as she was in Misery.
It was a pleasant surprise when she not only returned in Freak Show, but took on a much more endearing role as Ethel Darling, the matriarchal "freak" of Elsa Mars' camp. Bates would also go on to play lead roles in Hotel, Roanoke (as the Butcher, she froze blood), and Apocalypse.
On the show, actors usually fit into one category - they play good guys, bad guys, or someone in-between. But not Bates, an actress never intent on playing the same role twice. She's been evil, loving, human and irredeemable, and makes it look fun as hell every time.