American Horror Story

Jessica Lange stars as the impresario Elsa Mars in the fourth installment of American Horror Story: Freak Show.

Career Highlights

Acclaimed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, two-time Academy Award® winner Jessica Lange has dazzled the screen with over 30 credits to her name.Lange made her Hollywood debut in John Guillermin’s King Kong opposite Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin, winning a Golden Globe® for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture. She then permanently put her name on the map by receiving dual Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations in the same year for her challenging performances in Frances and in Sydney Pollack’s memorable comedy Tootsie starring opposite Dustin Hoffman, for which she took home the Oscar® for Supporting Actress. In 1994, Lange won her second Oscar for Best Actress in Blue Sky, which she starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones.Following her previous dynamic performances, Lange amazed audiences with projects such as Country, which paired her with Frances co-star Sam Shepard, to tell the story of a struggling farmer and his wife. Lange’s performance again earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Success continued with Sweet Dreams and Music Box, both which garnered her Academy Award nominations and an additional Golden Globe nomination for Music Box. In 1996 Lange picked up her first Emmy nomination for the made for TV adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire in which Lange played “Blanche DuBois.”&nbsp;Lange continued to take diverse roles in acclaimed movies which included Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear alongside Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Juliette Lewis; Losing Isaiah opposite Halle Barry; Rob Roy with Liam Neeson; and Tim Burton’s Big Fish alongside an outstanding ensemble cast including Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, and Helena Bonham Carter. Lange also appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers starring Bill Murray, in which Lange played a former flame of Murray’s character.&nbsp;In 2005, Jessica starred in the independent film Don’t Come Knocking. The film, written and co-starring Sam Shepard, marked their first collaboration after over 15 years. In 2006, she starred alongside fellow award winning actresses Joan Allen and Kathy Bates in Bonneville. The film was written by Daniel Davis and Christopher Rowley and directed by Rowley. Next she dabbed into TV with the remake of the critically acclaimed Sybil. Lange played “Dr. Wilbur,” a psychiatrist who attempts to unravel the abusive childhood which results in Sybil (Blanchard) developing a multiple personality disorder.In 2009, Lange won an Emmy Award for her performance in HBO’s Grey Gardens. She played “‘Big’ Edith Bouvier,” the eccentric aunt of Jackie Kennedy, alongside Drew Barrymore who played her daughter “‘Little’ Edith Bouvier.”Following her Emmy win for Grey Gardens, Lange starred in the TV series American Horror Story with Glee producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. She won a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Emmy Award in 2012 for her portrayal as character “Constance Langdon.” Referred to as a “psycho sexual thriller,” the show premiered its 1st installment on FX in October 2011.For the second installment of FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum, Lange played “Sister Jude,” a no-nonsense nun who runs a mental institution. Yet again, Lange garnered rave reviews for her character portrayal, earning her a 2013 Golden Globe and SAG Awards nominations.In the third installment, American Horror Story: Coven, Jessica starred as “Fiona Goode,” Supreme witch of the Salem descendants. Her mesmerizing performance earned her the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, as well as 2014 Golden Globe and SAG Awards nominations.Lange can be seen on-screen in Charlie Stratton’s remake of Emile Zola’s erotic thriller, In Secret. She starred as “Madam Raquin,” the overbearing aunt to Elizabeth Olsen’s character “Therese.” She is also in Rupert Wyatt’s The Gambler, starring Mark Wahlberg and Brie Larson.

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Jessica Lange stars as the impresario Elsa Mars in the fourth installment of American Horror Story: Freak Show.

Jessica Lange as Elsa Mars in FX's AHS: Freak Show

Jessica Lange as Elsa Mars | AHS: Freak Show | FX

American Horror Story: Freak Show

Jessica Lange

Career Highlights

Kathy Bates
as Ethel Darling

Sarah Paulson
as Bette & Dot Tattler

Evan Peters
as Jimmy Darling

Jessica Lange as Elsa Mars | AHS: Freak Show | FX

Jessica Lange

Sarah Paulsonas Bette & Dot Tattler

Evan Petersas Jimmy Darling

Sarah Paulson
as Bette & Dot Tattler

Evan Peters
as Jimmy Darling