Entertainment Weekly have this week treated us to 11 first look images from the fifth season of American Horror Story, subtitled Hotel.
Lady Gaga as The Countess
As the owner of the titular Hotel Cortez, The Countess is a deadly woman who enjoys a healthy sex life and drinking the blood of others. Killing with her fashionable and sharp chainmail glove, she's a dangerous creature, and "extremely strong" according to Lady Gaga, who adds: "She's been through so much. It's kind of impossible for anything to penetrate her."
Matt Bomer as Donovan
Bomer has a big role this season in that he's The Countess' lover of 20 years, but he finds himself being rebuffed when his other half meets handsome male model Tristan. Chatting about his character, Bomer says: "He's very interested in domesticity and sort of nesting and hunkering down and having her to himself every now and then, and that doesn't go over so well with her limitless hunger."
Cheyenne Jackson as Will Drake
Arriving at the Cortez with his son Lachlan, Will's a fashion designer from New York just begging for some new inspiration. Co-creator Ryan Murphy explains: "He comes to the hotel and he is going to turn part of it into his atelier and of course he gets sucked up into the Countess."
Wes Bentley as John Lowe
Bentley steps into the role of an LAPD detective this season, who moves into the hotel so he can investigate a series of murders perpetrated by the Ten Commandments Killer - a killer who arranges victims according to the biblical dictates. He and his family including pediatrician wife Alex (Chloe Sevigny) get sucked into the darkness of the Cortez. Bentley says: "He has a family he loves very much but that is sort of falling apart. He struggles with a lot of things. It's clear most of what John struggles with is control."
Angela Bassett as Ramona Royale
Ramona is a film star who once had a romantic relationship with The Countess, but is now looking for revenge against her, teaming up with Donovan to ensure she gets it. "They are powerful women at opposite sides and at odds with one another, each believing that they're right", says Bassett.
Naomi Campbell as Claudia
Campbell's a Vogue editor who decides to stay at the hotel, but ends up regretting her decision. Campbell explains: "She's kind of outlandish. She thinks she's indestructible and nothing's going to hurt her." We wouldn't bank on it!
Kathy Bates as Iris
Iris is Donovan's mother, and she works at the hotel so she can see her son on a day-to-day basis, even though he cannot stand the sight of her. "Iris is overprotective with a capital O, especially now since her son is ill. She wants to be there every day to make sure he's all right, and she's very controlling that way," explains Bates.
Finn Wittrock as Tristan
Catching the eye of The Countess at a fashion show at the hotel, Tristan's a male model with an "addictive personality", according to Wittrock. "I think he's hypersexual also. It makes him a prime candidate for the Countess' charms and he is very willingly seduced and then turned by her."
Evan Peters as James March
This season of AHS will see the time-frame constantly changing as it has done in other seasons, including flashbacks to a murderous Mr. March. Peters says: "He's the builder and owner of the hotel from the 1930s, and he is unique. He's designed a hotel to cater to his specific needs, which tend toward the dark evil."
Max Greenfield as Gabriel
The star of New Girl comes into AHS as an addict, checking into the hotel and going through one unforgettable experience. Greenfield says: "He's a Hollywood junkie. Originally, he had a job and was more preppy or business. And Ryan [Murphy] came back and was like, 'I think we should be more rock and roll.'"
Sarah Paulson as Hypodermic Sally
Sally is another junkie who lives at the hotel, and one of the more tragic figures in the season. Paulson says: "She's selfish. She will put a stiletto in your face if it means she can get what she needs. But she's also like a broken rag doll."
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