Jessica Lange Reveals FX Was ‘Too Cheap’ to Provide Transportation During Early ‘AHS’ Shoots

Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Lange criticized FX during a recent PaleyFest panel, recalling how the network was reluctant to cover transportation costs for cast members during the production of earlier seasons of “American Horror Story.” Speaking alongside franchise stalwart Sarah Paulson, Lange recounted having to navigate late-night drives back to their accommodations after wrapping up filming.

“We had to drive ourselves,” Lange said. She described arriving home around 4 or 5 in the morning, parking on streets within New Orleans’ French Quarter, and finding her way home independently. Lange noted that the lack of courtesy from the studio remains a “bone of contention” for her, a sentiment that drew laughter of agreement from Paulson.

The veteran actress characterized the network as “too fucking cheap” to provide vehicles or drivers for the show’s stars at the time. This friction occurred during the era when the series was filming in New Orleans, specifically including the third season, “Coven.”
Despite these past grievances, Lange has returned to the anthology series for its upcoming thirteenth installment, “AHS 13,” marking her first appearance since 2018’s “Apocalypse.” She is set to reprise four iconic roles from the show’s history: Constance Langdon from the first season, Sister Jude Martin from the second, Cordelia Goode from the third, and Elsa Mars from the fourth, alongside one undisclosed mystery character.

Lange previously told “Good Morning America” that the opportunity to revive these characters was the primary motivator for her return after a multi-year hiatus. She revealed to “Live With Kelly and Mark” that she insisted on playing all four roles as a condition for coming back, countering creator Ryan Murphy’s initial suggestion that she focus solely on Constance Langdon, whom he considers her favorite portrayal.