Why Sarah Paulson Left American Horror Story After Season 10

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Sarah Paulson recently revealed why she decided to leave American Horror Story after its tenth season. She first joined the show in season one, playing Billie Dean Howard, and her most recent role was in American Horror Story: Double Feature, where she portrayed both Karen in Red Tide and Mamie Eisenhower in Death Valley. Since then, she hasn’t appeared in any further installments of the series.

In a recent interview with Variety, Sarah Paulson explained why she hasn’t been in American Horror Story since season 10 – she needed time away from the show. Paulson said the constant portrayal of frightening events made it hard for her to separate what was fake on screen from reality. Here’s what she had to say:

I’ve noticed something among actors that’s hard to explain unless you’ve spent months pretending to be in danger. When I really immerse myself in a role, my body reacts as if the fear is real. For example, if my character is terrified and running, I genuinely experience the physical sensations of fear, like hyperventilating and feeling like I’m in actual danger.

Evan Peters first appeared on American Horror Story with a smaller role in Murder House. After that, he became a main cast member for every season through season 10, with the exception of season 9. Throughout those seasons, he often played multiple characters, including bringing back fan favorites like Billie and Lana Winters from Asylum while also taking on new roles.

American Horror Story Season Sarah Paulson’s Roles
Murder House (season 1) Billie Dean Howard
Asylum (season 2) Lana Winters
Coven (season 3) Cordelia Goode
Freak Show (season 4) Bette and Dot Tattler
Hotel (season 5) Sally McKenna (also Billie Dean Howard)
Roanoke (season 6) Audrey Tindall (also Lana Winters)
Cult (season 7) Ally Mayfair-Richards
Apocalypse (season 8) Wilhemina Venable (also Cordelia Goode and Billie Dean Howard)
Double Feature (season 10) Tuberculosis Karen (Red Tide); Mamie Eisenhower (Death Valley)

As a huge fan of American Horror Story, I always knew Sarah Paulson was a mainstay, but it’s amazing to realize she’s actually tied with Evan Peters for appearing in the most seasons! Considering how long she’s been with the show and the incredibly diverse – and often disturbing – characters she’s played, I completely understand why she needed a break. It’s a demanding show, and honestly, her stepping back makes a lot of sense after giving so much to it.

Okay, so she’s taking a little time off, but don’t think this is goodbye! I’m hearing she’ll be back for season 13 of American Horror Story, which is slated to hit FX on October 31st, 2026. And she won’t be alone – a whole bunch of familiar faces are returning, including Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Billie Lourde, Leslie Grossman, and Gabourey Sidibe. Plus, get this – Ariana Grande is joining the cast! It’s shaping up to be a seriously stacked season.

Sarah Paulson hasn’t been on the show since 2021, but she’s now open to returning. She explained that repeatedly doing similar scary projects isn’t healthy for her, and she wants to explore different roles. This allows her to work on projects like the film Hold Your Breath and the series The Bear.

The frightening experiences she’s described suggest she probably won’t return for future seasons of American Horror Story if the show goes beyond its thirteenth season. Despite this, her contribution to the series has been significant, and it’s become a defining part of her career, with her playing a major role in most of its storylines.

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2025-12-02 21:45