Jessica Lange (77) Is Upset Over FX’s Treatment of ‘American Horror Story’ Actors
Jessica Lange’s return to ‘American Horror Story’ has been one of the biggest TV stories of the fall. The Oscar winner was a central figure in the FX anthology’s early years, starring in its first 4 seasons as Constance Langdon in ‘Murder House’, Sister Jude in ‘Asylum’, Fiona Goode in ‘Coven’ and Elsa Mars in ‘Freak Show’.
Her work earned her 4 Emmy nominations and 2 wins in 2012 and 2014. After a brief cameo as Constance in ‘Apocalypse’ in 2018, she seemed done with the franchise, and in early 2025 she firmly ruled out a return when asked about it at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Yet Lange is back for Season 13, and she clearly hasn’t lost her famously blunt sense of humor. While sitting beside longtime co-star Sarah Paulson at a recent PaleyFest panel, the 77-year-old revealed a lingering grievance with the network from her years on the show.
According to footage circulating online, Lange explained that the show’s stars had to drive themselves to set. She then named FX directly and gave a sarcastic salute, calling the issue a sore point that still bothers her today.
Lange added that the reason was simple: in her view, the network was too cheap to provide cars for its stars. Paulson enthusiastically agreed with the complaint and laughed along as Lange made her point.
Entertainment Weekly reported that it had reached out to FX representatives for comment. So far, the network has not publicly responded. Lange’s candor is nothing new to those who have worked with her. Creator Ryan Murphy recently revealed that she has often pushed back on dialogue she didn’t like.
“Many, many times in the history of this show, I’ve been called to set because Jessica’s like, ‘I don’t like that, I don’t want to say that,'” Murphy told TV Insider at the Season 13 premiere on September 23.
He pointed to Fiona Goode’s iconic “knotty pine” line from ‘Coven’ as a perfect example. According to Murphy, Lange hated the line so much that she refused to film it twice, meaning the version fans love is the only take in existence.
The first trailer for ‘AMERICAN HORROR STORY’ Season 13 has been released. Releasing September 24 on FX & Hulu. https://t.co/VYaDRBH6Oo
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 13, 2026
So what changed her mind about returning? Lange has explained that Murphy initially approached her about playing Constance again, which he considered his favorite of her characters.
She agreed to come back on one condition: that she could play all 4 of her iconic characters. Murphy said yes, and Season 13 now revisits some of the show’s most beloved scenes and lines.
Production on the new season kicked off on April 6, with Murphy sharing a behind-the-scenes look at Lange’s first appearance in the franchise in years. It marks her first major role in the series since ‘Freak Show’ wrapped in 2015.
Lange isn’t the only familiar face returning. Season 13 brings back many longtime ensemble members, including Paulson and Angela Bassett, as the series celebrates its greatest hits.
Murphy has described the season as packed with callbacks to the show’s history. For fans who grew up watching the early seasons, seeing Lange back alongside her old co-stars has been a major draw.
Lange’s comments may have been delivered with a laugh, but they offer a rare peek behind the scenes of one of TV’s most popular horror franchises. Even years later, it seems some frustrations haven’t completely faded. For fans, though, her honesty is part of what makes her so beloved. Whether she’s refusing a second take or calling out the network on stage, Lange remains unmistakably herself.
Do you think FX should have provided cars for the stars of ‘American Horror Story’?
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