All of Angela Bassett’s ‘American Horror Story’ Characters, Ranked
Angela Bassett has delivered some of the most commanding performances in the history of the anthology television series ‘American Horror Story‘. Across multiple installments created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, the acclaimed actress brought formidable presence, emotional depth, and authority to a diverse array of figures.
From vengeful vampires and side-show performers to immortal priestesses, Bassett consistently elevated the drama and horror across her various roles. Her work across several seasons of the franchise earned multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations and established her as a defining pillar of the series.
Monet Tumusiime
In ‘American Horror Story: Roanoke’, Monet Tumusiime is introduced as an actress who plays the reenactment version of Lee Harris within the docudrama series ‘My Roanoke Nightmare’. Following the television special’s mainstream success, Monet agrees to return to the haunted North Carolina farmhouse for the reality television follow-up, ‘Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell’. Throughout the ordeal, Monet battles severe alcohol dependency, which complicates her ability to navigate the deadly supernatural forces besieging the property during the Blood Moon. After surviving capture and physical torture by the cannibalistic Polk family, she manages to flee back to the residence alongside fellow actor Audrey Tindall. Her arc concludes when the real Lee Harris, possessed by the woodland witch Scáthach, fatally shoves Monet over a second-floor banister.
Ramona Royale
Introduced in ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’, Ramona Royale is a former 1970s Blaxploitation film actress who carries the ancient blood virus. Ramona previously shared a passionate romantic partnership with the matriarch of the Hotel Cortez, the Countess, who transformed her into an immortal. Their bond shattered after the Countess executed Ramona’s new mortal lover, inciting a decades-long quest for vengeance against her former maker. Seeking retribution, Ramona forms alliances with spurned associates Donovan and Iris to infiltrate the establishment and eliminate the Countess. After surviving imprisonment within the sealed corridors of the building, Ramona outlasts her rivals and remains one of the lasting residents of the Hotel Cortez.
Desiree Dupree
Featured throughout ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’, Desiree Dupree is a performer at Fräulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities renowned for having three breasts. Desiree initially arrives alongside her volatile strongman husband, Dell Toledo, but she eventually severs ties with him due to his abuse and criminal actions. A pivotal medical consultation reveals that she is biologically female and capable of carrying children, resolving years of confusion regarding her anatomy. Within the carnival community, Desiree establishes herself as a steadfast ally to the other performers, actively confronting those who threaten the troupe. She ultimately survives the climactic slaughter enacted by Dandy Mott and achieves her lifelong desire for a conventional family, marrying Angus T. Jefferson and raising two children.
Marie Laveau
Debuting in ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ and later reappearing in ‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’, Marie Laveau is the immortal Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Marie preserves her centuries of youth through a spiritual pact with the deity Papa Legba, leading the city’s voodoo practitioners while waging a long-standing rivalry against the Salem witches. When mortal witch hunters threaten both factions, she enters into a pragmatic alliance with Supreme Fiona Goode to protect their respective communities. After being condemned to the underworld, she is summoned back to the mortal realm by Cordelia Goode in ‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ to assist in the final confrontation against the Antichrist. Bassett received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her commanding portrayal of the historical figure.
Share your thoughts and personal rankings of Angela Bassett’s memorable characters on ‘American Horror Story’ in the comments.
