As an anthology horror series, American Horror Story has the unique opportunity to introduce brand new main characters each season. Even though many of the show's actors have taken on more than one part, their roles tend to be different.
As a result, there are so many characters that every fan of the show has a strong chance to find a few heroes or villains that capture their attention. However, some characters stand out even among the charismatic rest. Either because of the actor's performance, the complexity of the character, or the character's overall uniqueness, these are the heroes stand out for fans of the show.
10 Fiona Goode (Coven)
Jessica Lange is one of the many actors who appeared in multiple roles on the show — and she was always unforgettable. Among her performaces, the power-hungry Fiona Goode is one of her best characters, walking the fine line between sympathetic and despicable.
She does many awful things throughout her tenure, such as killing Madison. Yet, it's still possible to understand her motivations. The series also works with the complicated relationship between Fiona and her daughter Cordelia, which humanizes her character to a certain degree. Though Fiona is mostly a villain, she's one that's fascinating to watch.
9 Donna Chambers (1984)
Donna Chambers might seem sweet at first but she's much more dangerous than she lets on — just like many American Horror Story characters. She's an accomplished doctor who's not afraid to experiment to achieve her goals, no matter what she has to do to get there.
Despite all her shortcomings, she undergoes something of a transformation in the series and becomes more sympathetic as time goes on. Her intelligence makes it easier for the fans to cheer for Donna, despite what she had done in the past. Morally ambivalent characters are often the best, and Donna fits this description to the letter.
8 Dandy Mott (Freak Show)
Dandy Mott is another character hiding a significant secret about himself. When it finally comes out, it might be a shock for some of the fans to realize Dandy is a serial killer. His twisted personality makes him intriguing to watch, even though it's very difficult to like him.
Not every show takes the care to explain the motives behind a serial killer's actions, especially in a believable way. American Horror Story manages it, and thanks to this impeccable storytelling, the fans love to hate Dandy.
7 The Countess (Hotel)
Lady Gaga shone in the series as a powerful, stylish, cruel vampire Vampires are a point of fascination for audiences everywhere, and the Countess was no exception.
The Countess stand out among other characters thanks to her ruthlessness combined with her unique style. Even when she hurts people and feeds on children, she still manages to look great, despite being downright evil. She has all the sinister glamour that audiences associate with these creatures.
6 Kai Anderson (Cult)
Evan Peters has been with the show since season one, andhas portrayed a large number of characters. Among these, Kai Anderson is one of the scariest and most memorable. He has very few positive or likeable traits, as he's a violent racist who formed his own cult.
However, his story is fascinating to watch, since it makes the viewer consider what are people capable under someone like Kai's leadership. Despite having no special powers, not being a demon, a vampire, or a witch, Kai still managed to inflict a lot of damage on the world. He's both frightening and unforgettable, a terrifying testament to the dark side of humanity.
5 Marie Laveau (Coven)
Even though the show's stories are entirely fictitious, American Horror Story sometimes draws inspiration from people who once lived. Such is the case with Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen who lived in New Orleans and forged an independent life for herself in times when it was still unusual for women to do so.
In the show, Marie has been around for a long time, and she's one of the most powerful living witches. Unlike other witches, Marie doesn't use her powers entirely for selfish reasons. With Angela Bassett's performance and the mysterious aura of the character, Marie easily steals every scene she appears in.
4 Dr. Oliver Thredson (Asylum)
Dr. Oliver Thredson is one of the best villains of the entire show... because for a long time, he's not a villain. Instead, he seems to genuinely care about his patients and Lana. That's why it's all the more surprising when he reveals he's the masked serial killer known as Bloody Face.
In addition to murdering people, he also kidnaps Lana, and is capable of gruesome deeds. Zachary Quinto's chilling performance helped to sell the character, and made him one of the fan-favorites despite all the horrible things he does.
3 Michael Langdon (Apocalypse)
Even though each series of American Horror Story takes place in a different setting, it doesn't mean there's not a connection between them. For example, Michael Langdon appears in the eighth season as the son of Vivien Harmon and Tate Langdon, who played a major part all the way back in the first season.
The show has seen many villains, but Michael is one of the greatest because he's the Antichrist himself. This lends him a unique position, and allows him to do a lot of evil should he choose to do so. Despite that, Michael isn't automatically as evil as one might presume. Exploring the various sides of his character makes him a lot of fun to watch.
2 The Butcher (Roanoke)
Kathy Bates is an experienced actress, and her portrayal of Thomasin White (aka the Butcher) is one of her most memorable roles. Just like Bates's madame Delphine La Laurie, Thomasin White is no stranger to hurting and killing people whenever she so decides.
She meets her end in the series, but her power is so great she continues to kill people as a spirit for another four centuries. The show has a lot of frightening characters, but the Butcher is one of the best, since she still presents a genuine threat even after her death.
1 Lana Winters (Asylum)
Lana Winters is by far one of the most interesting female characters of the series. She's an ambitious journalist who manages to forge a career for herself despite living in the 1960s, when working women often weren't taken seriously.
Lana later ends up committed to the Asylum despite being healthy; however, she doesn't give up ,and tries to come up with a way how to get out. Even when a serial killer takes a hold of her, she manages to survive. Sarah Paulson gives an excellent performance as Lana and the character's resilience, as well as intelligence, are both inspiring.