Kathy Bates quickly became a mainstay on the anthology series American Horror Story, but she was already an icon in Hollywood before all of that. She’s known for her performances in Titanic and Misery and has become an industry darling for her acting skills. Kathy can really play any character that’s thrown her way, so it seemed like a match made in heaven when creator Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk welcomed her to the cast of horrors, oddities, and characters with traumatic pasts.
Kathy made her mark when she joined season two’s, Coven, and, from then on, she’s been considered one of the rotating cast of actors and actresses that continue to entertain fans. While Kathy really gives her all in every one of her roles on American Horror Story, that doesn’t mean her characters are likable. She can play a mean and vile character or turn on the charm—either way, it’s easy to pick which of them are the least likable to the most admired.
Thomasin ‘The Butcher’ White (Roanoke)
Loosely based on a real English colonist who lived during the 16th century, Kathy Bates played Thomasin White, whose nickname is ‘The Butcher.’ Thomasin was a brutal character in Roanoke who had no sympathy for others, even her own people, who she ended up poisoning and trapping on the land forever.
When the cast and crew arrived at the Roanoke home, Thomasin set her sights on them and even threatened them with a rusty butcher knife. Basically, Thomasin isn’t a spirit or woman who would be a good dinner guest, making her the least likable.
Agnes Mary Winstead (Roanoke)
At first, Agnes Mary Winstead was set to play Thomasin White, but the directors had no idea what they were in for. Agnes takes “method acting” to a whole new level when she became Thomasin and went after innocent spectators. Agnes became obsessed with her character from the 1800s, and, from that point on, became unhinged and often had psychotic breaks.
She killed Sidney Aaron James (Cheyenne Jackson), the lead producer of “My Roanoke Nightmare,” and is eventually killed by the real Thomasin White. Because she mercilessly killed and assaulted people around her, she doesn’t rank her high on this list.
Ms. Miriam Mead (Apocalypse)
Miriam Mead has strong beliefs, and that’s all fine and dandy, but she basically raised Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) to be the Antichrist. She also conspired with a Satanist group to get Michael into the most powerful warlock group. When suspicions were high, she killed off John Henry Moore (Cheyenne Jackson) to keep Michael’s intentions a secret. Miriam was also a part of one of the most intense deaths of the season, so it’s safe to say she’s not a people person.
Once she’s reanimated as a robot, she’s Michael’s right-hand woman and continues to be ruthless and uncaring to those around her, except him. The only reason why she’s not less likable is that she at least cares for one person in her life, whether her intentions are pure or not.
Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Coven)
Kathy Bates’s first appearance on American Horror Story was Delphine LaLaurie, a real-life New Orleans socialite of the 1830s. Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) cons Delphine into drinking a potion, believing it’s one to help her husband’s wandering eye. In reality, she’s damned to live an eternal life. While there’s no doubt Delphine is despicable, she somewhat redeems herself when she reappears over a century later.
When she’s forced to be Queenie’s (Gabourey Sidibe) slave, she realizes how times have changed and even forms a bond with the witch. Even though Delphine remains headstrong and stubborn, she doesn’t completely rid herself of her racist ways and is sent to her personal Hell in her own attic of horrors. There might be a few things that don’t make sense about Coven, but Delphine’s character is complex and one of the best parts of the season.
Iris (Hotel)
Iris might come off as moody and unapproachable, but, deep down, she’s a mother who will stand by her son’s side, even if he hates her and hangs out with vampires. Iris sticks around the haunted Hotel Cortez because she wants to keep a close eye on her son, Donovan (Matt Bomer). She’s highly skeptical of his beau, The Countess (Lady Gaga), and she does what needs to be done to avoid being haunted or eaten by the spirits and creatures who roam the hotel halls.
Of course, no one is truly innocent in American Horror Story, and, when she found out Sally McKenna (Sarah Paulson) supplied Donovan with a deadly dose of drugs, she pushed her out a window. Everyone has their limits, and, when Iris comes to hers, she’s comforted by Liz Taylor (Denis O’Hare) and finds a friend in her. In the end, she becomes the hotel manager and befriends several ghosts that live in the hotel. Overall, Iris’s story might’ve been tragic, but there is some good behind her character.
Ethel Darling (Freak Show)
So far, Kathy Bates has played a butcher, an unhinged actress, a serial killer from the 1800s, and a haunted hotel lobby manager, but her most likable character thus far is Ethel Darling from Freak Show. She was married to an abusive husband, is a recovering alcoholic, and has been judged for her appearance. Ethel becomes a mother figure to the rest of the circus and tries to see the best of anyone she crosses paths with.
She meets her demise at the hands of Stanley (Denis O’Hare) and Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange), but she remains to be the most sympathetic and likable characters of the series and the season.
