American Horror Story: Ranking Sarah Paulson's Characters From Worst To Best

Billie Dean Howard was a nice introductory character for Paulson, but it's her performance as Lana Winters that would put the actress on the map. First appearing in Asylum, Lana made short work of anyone who got in her way. However, the reporter would end up enduring all sorts of hell during the 1960s after being imprisoned in the Briarcliff mental facility. She was raped by a serial killer and forced to repress her sexuality, and yet her spirit refused to wane.

Paulson pulled off something truly extraordinary with her performance as Lana, and the character has become pretty synonymous with the actress. The hardened reporter has also become something of a pop culture - and feminist - icon and, upon reflection, it's easy to see why. In a time where women had next to no power, Lana Winters refused to let the patriarchal male stand in her way.

The character's popularity is further reinforced by the fact that she re-appeared in Roanoke, and has subsequently been mentioned in Cult. She's one of the lynchpins of the shared American Horror Story universe, and it's highly unlikely that we'll ever see another character on the show as well-written and multi-layered as her.

Which of Sarah Paulson's American Horror Story characters is your favourite? Tell us in the comment section below.