AHS star Joey Pollari on wild Jessica Lange revelations in the finale

[This story contains a major spoiler from the first 12 episodes of American Horror Story season 13, heading into the Oct. 29 finale.]

It’s a small club of actors who once got a call from Ryan Murphy asking them to play the lead role in his next show, and Joey Pollari remembers that day well. His kinship with the prolific TV producer really grew when the actor was working as a production assistant on the red carpet for Murphy’s 2025 series. doctor odysseyThat program soon led to roles with Demon franchise, Beautiful And now, the All-Star season of American Horror Story.

“Ryan said, ‘I’m calling you because you’re going to lead the next American Horror Story.’ I was stunned,” said Polari (who also starred in American crime) tells hollywood reporter About being cast in Season 13 of the hit FX horror anthology as Ben DeSoto, the lead character who started out as a boyfriend with a debilitating case of triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) and is ending the season as the son of Satan (yes, that Satan). “I just knew it would be the entry point to meet these characters,” he says of Satanic Surprise. “I am very grateful for this [Ryan] He has seen something in me, at least it can be said that it has been transformative.”

But Satan’s Offspring also suffered a loss in the final week of the 13th season, as Ben, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) were overtaken by Ben’s evil father (who is played by both Federer Steyer and Paul Anthony Kelly). Below, Polari reveals more about what her role was like, what it was like to have so many scenes ahs royalty Jessica Lange (whose character was the source of a major revelation in the finale) and Emma Roberts, and if he sees more ahs In his future after season 13 ends.

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You’ve been on several of Ryan Murphy’s shows recently (Monster: The Ed Gein Story, The Beauty and Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story). Did you get a call about this? American Horror Story SSeason 13 or have to audition?

Ryan [Murphy] called me. He said, “I’m calling you because you’re going to lead the next American Horror Story” I was stunned. And he really delivered it. I don’t know how many scripts were written at that time. I don’t think they were fully prepared. But they told me what it would be like and who I would be working with.

It’s fun to go back to that moment and just think, “Wow, this is incredible.”

Which of the artists were signed at that time?

jessica [Lange]. He said, “You’ll have many, many scenes with Jessica Lange.” And he is the one, oh yes. (laughs.) They told me what my character would be, how I would introduce him [AHS] Get the lore and be the gateway for all these other characters to return. He gave the names of several people, all of whom came back. So I got a very clear preview.

Being on the sets then was something else altogether. Acting with Jessica Lange is no small feat.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people are calling you Ryan’s “muse.” Does it feel like you’re his inspiration? Can you talk about your relationship with him?

Well, during the extended pandemic period, I was working as an events PA. There will be events for the premiere and FYC events, and I’ll be working the red carpet to welcome everyone, with camera people and so on. In August of 2024, I was called to a task doctor odyssey [a Murphy show] Premiere. The night before the show, I was setting up 20-foot curtains on a staircase while listening power of now Audiobooks and getting through the day at work. And the next day, I was on that carpet doctor odyssey. It was a blue carpet. I vacuumed it, gave everyone their markers [on the carpet] And water bottles. And 40 minutes later, Ryan Murphy walked on that carpet.

Six weeks before that premiere day, I got a call for an audition. Monster: The Ed Gein Story. My first in-person audition in four years. And about five weeks later, they called me on the phone and told me I got the role. Then he called me again to tell me how my role, my scenes and my work had impacted him. And soon after that, I was called to Italy and, probably about six months later, I met him in the Roman ruins and he said hello and said, “We should have dinner.” We did it. There’s a real kinship there.

It’s incredible to be in favor of this thing. I don’t know anything about this word “muse”, but I know she is a collaborator. I don’t think I could have imagined from steaming those curtains to being here now that life would take me there, but I’m so grateful he saw something in me and it’s been transformative to say the least.

you come into this universe ahs season as a main character, but also as one of the few characters not returning ahs star. Have you watched the show over the years and were you intimidated coming into it?

You hear Jessica Lange’s name, and that you have scenes with her, and that’s an amazing thing. I watched part of the show; Views over the years. When I started watching the show in more depth, I realized how much of it I watched via the internet. This is a show that is very beloved, so if you spend any time on the internet like I do, you’ll not only see Jessica Lange saying “Naughty Pine”, but also her monologue in it. asylum About caring for a squirrel. you will see madison montgomery [Emma Roberts’ character] Breaking these lines. you will see hypodermic sally [Sarah Paulson’s character].

So I knew a lot, but still, it was a surprise. The character I was being invited to play was new to this world and to Constance Langdon. I saw the pilot of American Horror Story In the old days, but did not see the whole Murder House. When Ryan told me the role, I thought it could be a good fit. He and I met for the first time on the show, and it was the first time I heard his Southern accent, which isn’t everything as an actor, but it’s definitely interesting, like, “Where am I?” And because you don’t have all the scripts, you have to react to this character’s confusion in real time; The investigation that was given.

I watched clanAnd then I was invited to go to Miss Robichaux’s Academy. I was there on the Robichaux set with those characters in real time. Yes, incredible.

Did you know that your character was the son of Satan when you signed on?

No,not at all. I just knew that that would be the entry point to meeting these characters. Then when I get a script and there’s “616” carved into Ben’s lower back, your ears perk up. But it was a shock to me, and even more of a shock was the scene when, after meeting his father, he goes to the Covenant and says, “I believe you are looking for me.”

Your two bottle episodes were rom-coms ahs. Played like the one with Madison Montgomery sex and the City case. There are funny lines; At one point, she talks about her great aunt Julia Roberts’ movies, and the clavicular-like dates she goes on. How much work do you do when you get the script Improve to create your own, and how much is on the page?

When I met Emma, ​​something happened immediately [chemistry]. I really felt like I had it figured out. Like, “We’ll really get along.” We did a podcast episode for the show and that was the first time we met in depth. We obviously had a very friendly rapport. So then when we were on set with the director Adam Penn, everything was so collaborative and he was really interested in what we had to say and do. I mean, these are words. There is some improvisation. But we thought it was very well written, and relatable. You don’t really need to work on it at that time.

It was more comfortable. At one point, we were doing a scene where both of us were smoking in bed. I said, “I think I could do this all day.” She said, “Well, you’re lucky because we’re lucky.” (laughs.) She is a very good scene partner. I felt very appreciated and the experience was very special.

You get a chance to work with almost everyone.

Not Kathy Bates; He has a view. But I got a chance to work with Angela [Bassett].

Was there any kind of initiation ritual, especially regarding the covenant?

No, no, they were all very welcoming. But it’s a fun thing to walk in as a new guy when they have years of history. They know how it works and they know their characters. It felt like we were in two different shows somehow. My character is deep and full of worry. Then I’ll come here and have quick conversations and one-liners. I mean, they threw me against the wall and Madison put a knife to my waist. (laughs.)

There was a big reveal at the end of episode 12 about Jessica Lange’s characters being connected. Fiona Good (clan) and Constance Langdon (murder house) are sisters who were separated at birth, and sister Jude (asylum) is his biological mother (his father, of course, is Satan). The episode then ends with Cordelia’s (Sarah Paulson) fate as well as Queenie’s (Gabourey Sidibe) in jeopardy once again, and it doesn’t look good for Ben either. How did everyone react to the reveal of the Lang characters, and what can you say about their fate in the finale?

There was a lot of enthusiasm to convince Vidya. It was so much fun when I read the script and what happens with it? No, I can’t say. But it certainly points out that not everything is as it seems, and there’s more to come! It’s a really fun finale. It’s not over until it’s over.

Does this leave your character in a place where you could become an alumnus after this season? Gabourey Sidibe tells me she thinks Covenant will come back. Could you see more seasons for Ben?

It will depend on the writers. Of course I would be interested, but it all depends on the writers. I’m grateful for my experience so far, and this is what mom has to say about luck!

Do you have any real fears, like Ben has, about the number 13? Did anything distract you on set while you were producing? ahs?

No, many people are superstitious, and I don’t think so. I’m not a very superstitious person, despite people warning me, “Are you afraid to do this? Are you worried?” However, it was fun to play it and find meaning everywhere and go deeply crazy. This is a great quality for visuals!

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American Horror Story The season 13 finale will air Thursday night at 9 p.m. on FX, with streaming on Hulu the following day.