American Horror Story: Ranking Jessica Lange's Characters From Worst To Best

3. Elsa Mars

While Freak Show divided American Horror Story fans (and continues to do so to this day), the one thing that made it worth watching was Lange's superb performance as protagonist Elsa Mars, the fabulous leader of the freak show troupe.

Throughout the 13-episode season, Elsa experienced quite a bit of heartache, from losing her friends, to false hope of a career in television - not to mention all the self-doubt she suffered from. Much like Constance, the chanteuse had a troubled past, and the revelation that she lost her legs in a snuff movie back in the late '30s was shocking to say the least. There's no doubt that Elsa had the richest backstory of all of Lange's characters.

Perhaps the most inspiring thing about Elsa is her character journey on the show. She started out as a fame-obsessed singer, chasing the bright lights of Hollywood. However, when she gets to where she wants to go, the realisation sets in that this life doesn't make her happy. She does gets her happy-ever-after in the afterlife, but instead of Hollywood directors, she is surrounded by her beloved "freaks".

Due to the negative connotations surrounding Freak Show, many often overlook Lange's nuanced performance as the chanteuse, which is a shame because Elsa Mars is the best thing the clown-inspired season has to offer. Of course, the character's greatest moments were those when she found herself in front of a microphone, serenading her adoring fans with hits from David Bowie or Lana Del Rey.