Sarah Paulson revealed that her least favorite season of Lana Winters. The latter character has popped up in a few seasons of American Horror Story, including Asylum, Roanoke, and a mention in Cult. The other two characters were new additions to the show and were part of Roanoke's twisty reveals. The first half of American Horror Story season 6 turned out to be a reenactment of real life events taking place at the house that was featured that season.
Paulson eventually played the actress who starred in this reenactment in the second part of the season as her character and the various other actors reunited in the Roanoke home to be terrorized once again. Roanoke received generally positive reviews from critics thanks to its twists and turns, but it has a divided fan response, with some considering it a revival of sorts while others saw it as another sign that American Horror Story is running out of good ideas.
While Paulson certainly doesn't think the series is running out of ideas, she isn't a fan of American Horror Story: Roanoke. The longtime Ryan Murphy collaborator told THR's Awards Chatter podcast that she felt "trapped" while filming the sixth season of the show and that she didn't "care about this season at all." Paulson revealed that, in retrospect, she wished she would've asked Murphy to sit out that season, but felt a sense of obligation due to her contract with the show.
I just don't care about this season at all. I know people will get mad at me for saying it, but for me, this was post having played Marcia and it was what I went to do right after finishing Marcia. I was so underwhelmed by the whole experience because I felt like I had entered into a new place inside of myself in of what I thought possible, in of what I might be willing to see if I can do. I felt really kind of trapped by my responsibility and my contractual obligation to do American Horror Story. As much as it's my home, and I've loved it always, it was the first time I felt like I wish I could have gone to Ryan and said, 'Please let me sit this one out.'
Paulson would go on to star in two more seasons of American Horror Story, including Cult and Apocalypse, before sitting out the ninth season, 1984. Paulson is set to return for the series' landmark tenth season, Double Feature, but details about her role remain under wraps. Paulson also directed episode for spinoff, American Horror Stories, that will be another anthology series. This time around, though, each episode will tell a different tale.
While fatigue is certainly natural, especially considering the fact that Paulson worked on American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson directly prior to filming Roanoke, it's safe to say American Horror Story wouldn't be the same without Paulson. Many of the series' iconic moments come from the actress and while American Horror Story: Roanoke may be overlooked by some fans, it is another entry in which Paulson turns in a spectacular performance.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast