American Horror Story may be an anthology series, but it has one of the most talented rotating casts of any series. American Horror Story carved out a niche for anthology TV shows when it debuted in 2011, and since that time, the show has gone on to have 12 seasons, each recounting a new set of terrifying events. While the series has continued to be helmed by creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, many of the other elements of the show change from season to season.

However, AHS has repeatedly cast several core actors across multiple seasons to tackle all new roles and characters. This has been an incredible way of showcasing the talent of these brilliant performers and seeing them tackle diverse roles within a short span of time. As a result, there also tends to be a standout performance in each season, with different actors claiming the crown for best performance in any given season.

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American Horror Story Season 1 – Jessica Lange As Constance Langdon

AHS season 1 introduced the show and set the tone that would make it so incredibly captivating. Season 1, subtitled Murder House, featured several of the actors who would become staples for the next several years of AHS. However, the standout performance in season 1 has to go to the incredible Jessica Lange, who would continue to be a pivotal performer in the early seasons of AHS.

In season 1, Lange plays Constance Langdon, the nosy neighbor who is not afraid to speak her mind and frequently crosses the line with the new family that moves in on the street. Langdon has an air of mystery, while also trying to actively hide her numerous secrets from those around her. Lange did a great job switching between a caring mother, to an overbearing neighbor, and a supernatural figure and helped to secure the future of AHS with her performance in season 1.

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American Horror Story Season 2 – Lily Rabe As Sister Mary Eunice

Lily Rabe appeared in season 1, and holds the shared title of actors who have appeared in th most seasons with Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, who have all been in nine seasons of the show each. However, season 2 saw Rabe step up to the plate and dominate in her role as the enthralling Sister Mary Eunice. Against the backdrop of an asylum, Sister Mary Eunice is initially a soft-spoken, quiet young nun who doesn’t assert herself. However, the dark forces at play in the season soon change that.

From a whispering wallflower to a conniving killer, Rabe brings the audience on a journey as the character transforms. This transformation and Rabe’s captivating performance is outstanding and easily one of the best of the entire series. While this season featured many incredible performances from Paulson, Peters and Lange, Rabe takes the crown for American Horror Story season 2.

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American Horror Story Season 3 – Jessica Lange As Fiona Goode

AHS season 3 is often hailed as one of the best seasons of the entire show. Subtitled Coven, this season followed a female-led cast, and introduced the first season with Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates in the mix. However, the season’s main focus was on the witches at the academy, and the great witch, Fiona Goode, played by Lange.

Lange’s performance is one of the best of this season, despite her role being more in a supporting capacity. Fiona struggles with the idea of having her powers fade away, and moving out of the way for a new great witch to rise up and take her place. Despite her complex relationship with her daughter, who runs the academy, and the young witches who are among the few witches still alive, Fiona is determined to keep her powers. This complex and balanced performance stood out as the best of the season.

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American Horror Story Season 4 – Finn Wittrock As Dandy Mott

AHS season 4 continued to push the limits of what the show could do, exploring some of the most unusual and surreal events of the series. The season revolved around an elaborate “Freak Show” which was the home to many people that were outcasts of society due to unusual genetic mutations. While the series featured a host of conventional “freaks,” some of the most jarring characters came from the audience, rather than the performers within the season.

That is where Finn Wittrock found himself, playing the eccentric character of Dandy Mott. Mott is a man child, whose wealthy mother caters to his every whim, even so far as purchasing performers for her son’s own amusement and companionship. Wittrock does a spectacular job making his supposedly conventional character into one of the most terrifying and twisted of the season.

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American Horror Story Season 5 – Denis O’Hare As Liz Taylor

Season 5, subtitled Hotel, saw the series transition into a new era, with several new cast members and major celebrities joining, like Lady Gaga. However, the season was divisive in terms of its own reception. Despite several winding narratives, a half dozen central characters and more mysteries than an M. Night Shyamalan film, there were some incredible moments in AHS season 5.

Many of these iconic and memorable moments came from the incredible Denis O’Hare, who had already appeared in all but season 2 before this point. O’Hare played Liz Taylor to great effect, a character who is in the process of self-discovery, and attempting to reconcile their own personal demons while working in a hotel full of them. Many of the biggest moments of the season come directly from Liz’s storyline, and O’Hare did an immaculate job delivering in every scene where they appeared.

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American Horror Story Season 6 – Adina Porter As Lee Harris

Adina Porter initially appeared in a minor role in one episode of AHS season 1, but it wasn’t until season 6 that she would take the spotlight for herself. Roanoke is often seen as the beginning of the end for AHS. The horror of the season and the split storytelling which was happening as both a documentary about a haunted house in the Roanoke forest and the actors and their real life counterparts made the season too different for many viewers.

However, Adina Porter provides a shining light in the season as Lee Harris. Lee is the sister of Matt, who has a troubled past that led her to a self-destructive life full of alcohol and addiction. However, as her character begins to reveal more details about her history, her true strength and ability to withstand and survive shines through.

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American Horror Story Season 7 – Evan Peters As Kai Anderson

Cult, or American Horror Story season 7, was another big win for the show, with the focus squarely placed on one of the most popular performers in the series, Evan Peters. In a small town, a young man sets out to change the world by running for local government. However, thanks to his genius intellect and his lack of moral responsibility, Kai Anderson goes to whatever lengths are necessary to secure his power and position.

Evan Peters is easily one of the most incredible actors of the series, despite his young age, but season 7 really allows him to shine as a performer. Kai is largely typical. He struggles in a society that is unfair, where the rules can be different from day to day and person to person. But, he gets an idea of how he can make his impact, and change the world. Peters did an incredible job with the character.

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American Horror Story Season 8 – Cody Fern As Michael Langdon

American Horror Story season 8 continued to see mixed reviews, partially due to many of the original core cast now having departed the show. However, this season continued to have some highlights. One of which was its ability to tie together some of the lore of previous seasons.

From early on in the season, Cody Fern is revealed to be a pivotal figure in a post-apocalyptic world. While the survivors squabble and argue, the mysterious Michael appears to be in total control. As the season unfolds, Michael’s connections to season 1 and his origin make him vastly more threatening, and Fern does the character justice with an ominous and commanding air of authority and power.

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American Horror Story Season 9 – Billie Lourd As Montana Duke

Billie Lourd first joined the cast of AHS in season 7, but her role in season 9 stands out as one of her most dynamic and entertaining. The season is a tribute to 1980s slasher movies, and Lourd is cast as Montana Duke, a promiscuous and spontaneous young woman who loves hard, and seeks revenge even harder. While the season took some time to get into a groove, Lourd remains the best part of season 9 from start to finish.

Montana is one of the most entertaining and engaging characters in the show, never mind the season. From her aggressively forward personality, her fierce loyalty to friends, and her personality shifts from being a living girl to a full-time ghost. Lourd does a spectacular job and Montana steals every scene where they appear.

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American Horror Story Season 10 Part 1 – Sarah Paulson As Tuberculosis Karen

Sarah Paulson is one of the most prolific actors to appear in the show, and one of the most talented. While she has had several incredible performances prior to season 10 part 1, subtitled Red Tide, TB Karen is one of her best. Season 10s split as a double feature led to harsh reviews, but Paulson’s performance is a highlight throughout. Initially, the town appears to have a clear problem with drug-addicted vagrants like Karen, but a darker secret is soon revealed.

TB Karen is an intimidating figure. Despite her small emaciated frame, she is intense and persuasive, and has an air of clarity that evades the other creatures in Provincetown. As she attempts to warn the new family about the terrible secrets held by the town, she fails to convince them, but in every scene where she appears, she makes a distinct impression.

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American Horror Story Season 10 Part 2 – Sarah Paulson As Mamie Eisenhower

During the second part of season 10, Paulson tackles an almost exactly opposite character as Mamie Eisenhower. The wife of president Dwight Eisenhower, and a clear voice of reason when things are at a breaking point. Paulson’s transformation is further highlighted thanks to these two seasons airing back to back.

While this portion of the season has been hailed as one of the worst in the entire run of AHS, it does showcase Paulson’s versatility. With aliens, secret government bodies, and a world on the verge of destruction, Paulson is a shining light throughout in her performance as Mamie. However, her best performance overall remains TB Karen.

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American Horror Story Season 11 – Russell Tovey As Patrick Read

By season 11, AHS had lost some of the momentum from earlier seasons, with many of the core cast gone, and the stories appearing to be less exciting and engaging. It was also at this point, with a season that revolved around the spread of HIV and a violent killer targeting gay men, that the first non-recurring actor became a central figure for the show. Russell Tovey has only appeared in season 11 of American Horror Story to date, but his performance in season 11 speaks for itself.

Playing a detective who is assigned to investigate this string of murders, whilst maintaining and covering up his own secrets from his colleagues. Tovey does a fantastic job delivering nuance and depth to a character with two warring sides. The pursuit of his career, and the pursuit of an opportunity to live freely as himself. Tovey shines throughout season 11, and would be a welcome return in future seasons.

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American Horror Story Season 12 – Emma Roberts As Ann Victoria Alcott

In AHS season 12, the show opted to tackle something new and adapt an already existing story for the first time. The novel Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine was thus lifted and slightly adjusted for the popular anthology series. While the story follows multiple mysterious threads, the central figure remains the protagonist, Anna Victoria Alcott.

Emma Roberts, who had previously appeared in multiple seasons of the show, returned to play the lead in season 12, and to great effect. Roberts delivers depth and range to a character who struggles to focus on her career when her pregnancy presents unusual complications. Anna struggles, and hallucinates, and wins awards for her acting, and through it all, Roberts did a great job standing out in American Horror Story season 12.