All Sarah Paulson ‘American Horror Story’ Roles, Ranked

When it comes to the twisted, terrifying world of American Horror Story, a few iconic names immediately come to mind. Sure, there's the legendary Jessica Lange, fan-favorite Evan Peters, the versatile Lily Rabe. But we all love our one and only Sarah Paulson. From scream queens to psychics, she's done it all.

Let's count down every single one of Sarah Paulson's AHS characters from okay to absolutely mind-blowing.

12. Mamie Eisenhower (“Double Feature”)

Status: iconic First Lady.

Paulson was totally committed to playing Mamie Eisenhower in “Double Feature,” but this wasn't her moment to shine. The character came with too many historical boxes to check, and the weird structure of the season didn't give her much room to do her thing. Still, points for that hair!

11. Tuberculosis Karen (“Double Feature”)

Status: tragic but underused.

Karen could've been such a standout character! This homeless woman with a sad backstory had all the makings of an AHS classic, but the show barely gave her enough screen time to make us fully invested.

Though: Paulson still managed to make us feel for Karen. That's just what she does. But we still wish that this story would get its proper season, not split in half.

10. Susan Atkins (“Cult”)

Status: brief appearance.

While Susan Atkins wasn't a main character for Paulson, her portrayal of the infamous Manson Family member in “Cult” is another reason why Ryan Murphy loves her so much. In just a brief appearance during the Manson flashback scenes, Paulson managed to give us that eerie devotion and disturbing nature of the real-life killer.

9. Shelby Miller (“Roanoke”)

Status: main character with a twist.

“Roanoke” gave Paulson a challenge: playing both the person in the documentary segments and the actress. While the role wasn't as flashy as some of her others, Paulson nailed the terrified-homeowner vibe. The whole “show within a show” format made this one interesting but slightly confusing.

8. Audrey Tindall (“Roanoke”)

Status: actress with an ego.

The “Roanoke” double-duty let Paulson flex her comedy as Audrey, the actress who played Shelby in the reenactment. Audrey brought some much-needed humor to the blood-soaked season.

7. Wilhemina Venable (“Apocalypse”)

Status: cold-hearted commander.

Ms. Venable was serving pure villain energy as the ruler of Outpost 3. She turned surviving the apocalypse into a nightmare for everyone else. Paulson clearly had a blast playing someone so deliciously evil. Sure, she didn't last the whole season, but she made every scene count.

6. Billie Dean Howard (“Murder House”, “Hotel”, “Apocalypse”)

Status: psychic who just keeps coming back.

Billie Dean was Paulson's first AHS character, and she's popped up in multiple seasons since. This celebrity medium walks the line between genuine psychic abilities and reality TV phoniness. While she's not the most complex role Paulson's had, Billie Dean's become a fun recurring character that connects different parts of the AHS universe.

5. Sally McKenna (“Hotel”)

Status: tragic ghost with an addiction problem.

Sally's desperate need for connection made her one of “Hotel’s” most tragic characters. Trapped in the Hotel Cortez, she's all smudged mascara and heroin chic. Paulson played her with the vulnerability that makes you feel sorry for her even when she's doing messed up stuff.

4. Ally Mayfair-Richards (“Cult”)

Status: phobia queen turned badass.

Ally starts off “Cult” as a mess of anxieties and fears, then transforms into someone who can play the political game better than anyone. Paulson nailed this evolution, taking us from weak Ally to “oh, she's actually brilliant.” That kind of character growth is what makes AHS so addictive.

3. Bette and Dot Tattler (“Freak Show”)

Status: conjoined twins with very different personalities.

Playing twins is tough enough, but conjoined twins is the absolute next level. Paulson crushed it, giving us shy Dot and outgoing Bette with totally distinct vibes. Their complicated relationship with each other (and the fact they share a body) made for some of the show's most interesting moments.

2. Cordelia Goode (“Coven”, “Apocalypse”)

Status: from sidekick to Supreme.

Cordelia started off in the shadow of her mom. In “Coven,” we watched her transform from the witch who couldn't stand up for herself into the badass Supreme who ran the whole coven. Then in “Apocalypse,” she took it even further, literally sacrificing everything to save the world.

1. Lana Winters (“Asylum”)

Status: ultimate survivor.

Lana Banana got locked up in Briarcliff for being gay, endured torture, escaped a serial killer, and emerged as a badass journalist who exposed it all. Paulson's performance was gutsy and totally Emmy-worthy (we're still mad about that one). Watching Lana fight through absolute hell made “Asylum” unforgettable.