Sarah Paulson as Karen looking stoic in American Horror Story Double Feature
By
Nick Bythrow
Published 27 minutes ago
Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.
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Sarah Paulson opened up about the real reason she left American Horror Story after season 10, explaining why she hasn't appeared since. Paulson began acting in the horror anthology series in season 1 as Billie Dean Howard. Her last appearance was on the cast of American Horror Story: Double Feature, playing Karen in Red Tide and Mamie Eisenhower in Death Valley.
Speaking with Variety, Paulson explained she hadn't appeared in American Horror Story since season 10 because she needed a break from the series. The actor specifically explained how the fake horrors she experienced throughout her time in the show made it difficult for her body to differentiate "between the real and imagined." Check out what Paulson said below:
There’s this phenomenon I’ve talked to other actors about that is really hard to describe unless you’re running through the woods simulating terror for six months out of the year, every year. Your body doesn’t know the difference between the real and imagined, at least not the way I work. If I’m terrified, I’m hyperventilating and I’m running from something, then I’m actually experiencing that.
Paulson's time on American Horror Story began with a recurring role in Murder House. Following her performance in the debut season, she's had a main role in every season of the show afterward through season 10, except for season 9. This included reprising past roles, such as Billie and Asylum's Lana Winters, while playing other main characters at the same time.
American Horror Story Season
Sarah Paulson's Roles
Murder House (season 1)
Billie Dean Howard
Asylum (season 2)
Lana Winters
Coven (season 3)
Cordelia Goode
Freak Show (season 4)
Bette and Dot Tattler
Hotel (season 5)
Sally McKenna (also Billie Dean Howard)
Roanoke (season 6)
Audrey Tindall (also Lana Winters)
Cult (season 7)
Ally Mayfair-Richards
Apocalypse (season 8)
Wilhemina Venable (also Cordelia Goode and Billie Dean Howard)
Double Feature (season 10)
Tuberculosis Karen (Red Tide); Mamie Eisenhower (Death Valley)
Paulson is tied for first place as the actor who's appeared in the most seasons of American Horror Story. Her contender is Evan Peters, who has also appeared in every season she's been in. Given her longevity with the series and the many roles she's portrayed, the toll it took on her makes her break from the series sensible.
But it's not a break that's going to last forever. She'll be returning for an undisclosed role in American Horror Story season 13, which premieres on October 31, 2026 on FX. Other returning cast members include Peters, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Billie Lourde, Leslie Grossman, and Gabourey Sidibe, alongside Ariana Grande's debut in the show.
Having last appeared on the show in 2021, it seems like Paulson is ready to return. However, her statement clarifies that coming back for the same type of horror-themed project time and again isn't good for her mental health. It also allows her to branch out to other projects, like the movie Hold Your Breath and the TV series The Bear.
The terror she discusses makes it clear that she likely won't be appearing in consecutive seasons of American Horror Story should the series continue past season 13. Even so, there's no denying the impact she's had on the series, making it a staple of her career and making her a huge starring presence for the majority of its stories.
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American Horror Story
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Mystery Sci-Fi & Fantasy Horror Thriller Release Date October 5, 2011 Network FX Showrunner Ryan Murphy Directors Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Jennifer Lynch, Michael Uppendahl, Loni Peristere, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Ryan Murphy, David Semel, Howard Deutch, Michael Lehmann, Angela Bassett, Jeremy Podeswa, Max Winkler, Michael Rymer, Paris Barclay, Axelle Carolyn, Anthony Hemingway, Craig Zisk, Elodie Keene, Jennifer Arnold, Jessica Yu, John Scott, Laura Belsey, Liz Friedlander, Maggie Kiley Writers Halley Feiffer, Ned Martel, Crystal Liu, Charlie Carver, Kristen Reidel, Adam Penn, Douglas Petrie, Todd Kubrak, Reilly Smith, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Joshua A. Green, Akela Cooper, Asha Michelle WilsonCast
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Evan Peters
Kyle Spencer
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Sarah Paulson
Tuberculosis Karen / Mamie Eisenhower
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American Horror Story
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