‘American Horror Story: Coven’ Star Kathy Bates Discusses Role, Possible Return
American Horror Story: Coven star Kathy Bates has opened up about her truly horrific role on the series.
Bates plays Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a Louisiana-born socialite who brutally tortured her slaves. The Golden Globe winner told Collider that she wanted to get involved with American Horror Story after seeing Jessica Lange’s work in season 1, but she wasn’t sure how. She and Lange met for a drink and she mentioned that she was interested, and Lange mentioned it to co-creator Ryan Murphy. Bates met with Murphy last January, and when he told her what he had in mind for this season, she “immediately” said yes.
However, Bates said she didn’t know exactly what she was getting into after watching the first two seasons of American Horror Story.
“After having seen the first two seasons, I knew they were really pushing the limits,” she said. “I’m just hoping they don’t ask me to do something really horrific. Although, I must say, we did shoot something pretty horrific. It’s been interesting, to say the least.”
Kathy Bates also said that she did a lot of research on Delphine LaLaurie, and that she “fought” with Murphy over whether she should be “authentically French” or Creole. She explained that her patriarch “way back when,” was born in Ireland, but served in the Army for Louis XIV. Her grandfathers served in the French Navy.
“She would have been considered Creole,” she said. “Any first-born children of settlers like that would be called Creole. We think of the Creole as a whole different ethnic group, but classically, they would have been Creole.”
Bates added, “She would have spoken Parisian French. So, I really fought with Ryan. I wanted her to be authentically French, but he just said, ‘No! No French!’ So, I said, ‘Okay, I’ll do a Delta accent with a little bit of New Orleans thrown in,’ and he was happy with that.”
Kathy Bates also said that she would look forward to returning for a fourth season of American Horror Story.
“I’m enjoying it tremendously. I have faith that Ryan will come up with something equally as wonderful for next season,” she said. “I know that he’s said this is his favorite season yet, for this show. I would love to come back. We’ll see what happens.”
American Horror Story: Coven is among the honorees for PaleyFest 2014. Since it premiered in 2011, the horror anthology has won 19 of 91 award nominations, with Jessica Lange taking home an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie in 2011, and James Cromwell winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2012.
