X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Here's Who Everybody Is Playing on American Horror Story: Hotel

Including Gaga!

jess-profile-pic.jpg
Jessica Roy

Thinking of checking into American Horror Story: Hotel? Here's what you may need to know before you book the reservation.

On the the fifth installment of the FX horror anthology series, co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have set the creepy action in a Los Angeles hotel and used the city's vintage downtown hotels for the exterior shots of the show. At the Television Critics Association fall previews on Friday, Murphy revealed they were partially inspired for Hotel by a surveillance video that came out a few years ago that showed a woman getting into an elevator in an allegedly haunted hotel -- and never coming out. (Her body was found a month later.)

Earlier this year, Murphy had confirmed that every season of American Horror Story takes place in the same universe. And that means, yes, you can look forward to seeing some familiar faces from previous installments checking into the Hotel Cortez around Episode 6 or 7.

Madchen Amick signs on for American Horror Story: Hotel

Check out more scoop we learned at the panel about who's playing who this season:

Lady Gaga plays Elizabeth. "She owns the hotel and she is sort of a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art and fashion and people," Murphy explained. "She has a nefarious plan that is revealed in the first episode that plays out over the course of the season."Also, Elizabeth will have relationships with the characters played by Matt Bomer, Angela Bassett and Cheyenne Jackson. Intriguing!

VIDEO: Lady Gaga is ready to check into American Horror Story: Hotel

Kathy Bates plays Iris. "I run the hotel," Bates said. " I have relationships with Matt and Wes [Bentley], and I can't stand you [Sarah Paulson]. I hate you... I also do crossword puzzles in my spare time." She also has a close relationship with ...

Denis O'Hare as Elizabeth Taylor. "I'm playing a person who's inspired by the awesomeness of Butterfield 8 and Cleopatra and things like that," O'Hare said. "I shave my head and, uh, other body parts!" Liz will work in the hotel's Blue Parrot Lounge bar.

Sarah Paulson plays Hypodermic Sally. "I live at the hotel. I hate Iris, and it's a very ancient reason that will be revealed quickly. My character this year is quite dark," Paulson said. "She's a drug addict and is sexy. She's unlike anything I've ever done on the show, unlike anything I've ever done anywhere."

Finn Wittrock plays Tristan Duffy. His character is a male model who's "always looking for his next high" and finds it in Lady Gaga. "We have a lot to do together," Wittrock said. "She sees all of me."

Hold the phone! Naomi Campbell will face off against Gaga in Hotel

Chloe Sevigny and Wes Bentley play Alex and John Lowe. The married couple are "dealing with a great loss we had in our family and coming to grips with that," Sevigny explained. Alex is a doctor, and John is a detective investigating a series of grisly murders that seem to relate back to the hotel.

Angela Bassett plays Ramona Royale. "I'm sexy. I have a very strong and lasting relationship with [Lady Gaga's] character, so I'm sure I'll be at odds with that man [Tristan Duffy] over who gets the girl. I'm a fabulous actress and visit the hotel often."

Matt Bomer plays Donovan. He's another denizen of Hotel Cortez who has "very interesting relationships with the ladyfolk in his life," the actor said.

Cheyenne Jackson plays Will Drake. Will is a fashion icon who's "trying to creatively reestablish himself" after moving from New York to Los Angeles.

Sadly, we did not get any details on Naomi Campbell's role on the show.

American Horror Story: Hotel premieres Wednesday, Oct. 7 on FX.