Ryan Murphy Writing Characters for Actors

[TheResidentZionist 128]

So one of my favorite things about Ryan Murphy, specifically on American Horror Story, is that he writes his characters with the actors in mind. He makes the core struggle of the character something that that specific actor can relate to in order to give us the best possible performance out of them. Sometimes its done to overturn an audiences preconceptions of an actor (ie. their iconic roles or public image)

For Example

Frances Conroy as Moira: i still get heartbroken every time Constance points out Moiras Ghostly eye and Frances just shudders with pain. In reality, Frances got into a car accident and has a glass eye

Gabourey Sidbe as Queenie: Queenie was the complete opposite of Gaboureys well known role of Precious Jones. In Precious she was powerless and physically harmed by others.Queenie was very strong and did what she wanted and  was the human Voodoo doll capable of harming others without hurting herself 

Jaime Brewer as Adelaide/Nan: I WANNA BE A PRETTY GURL! All of Jaime's characters have in someway challenged the fact that she has Downs Syndrome from Nan asking if she could be the supreme to Constance telling her she is not a pretty girl. 

The list goes on but here is my ultimate question.....

GAGA

it just dawned on me after reading a qoute from gaga about "the countess" that maybe Ryan is addressing Gaga's struggle with Lupus. She had said that "This show in many ways is about her survival and there is an amazing journey that touches on the mythology of viruses and in what way these afflictions change our lives and bring us together and tear us apart.”

Sounds to me like Ryan is trying to capitalize on Gagas own struggle with a disease and wrap it into her character.

Thoughts? 

 

[Jed 7,716]

I don''t like the sound of "capitalizing on Gagas own struggle" but yeah it is neat that he writes that way

[NewYorkCity 10,530]

That is good and bad. Because Jessica Lange did the same character for 4 seasons. 

[djBuffoon 12,075]

I don't know if Elizabeth was inspired by Gaga's disease, but in general, Murphy has tremendous instincts when it comes to writing for the actor's strengths, and even testing them a little bit. And certainly, the better he knows one of his cast members, the more in-tune with them he (and the other writers) can be.

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

That is good and bad. Because Jessica Lange did the same character for 4 seasons. 

lol. I love Jessica but yeah... 

[Red 97,522]

That is good and bad. Because Jessica Lange did the same character for 4 seasons. 

I used to think so before watching the show but now I think completely different, there's an abyss between every character she played. Constance, who was a strict suburban judgemental overprotective mother, is basically the exact opposite of Fiona, who was cosmopolitan woman who lived for luxury and vanity, while being a protector of the minorities but an awful mother, for example. But they all look the same indeed.

[TheResidentZionist 128]

I used to think so before watching the show but now I think completely different, there's an abyss between every character she played. Constance, who was a strict suburban judgemental overprotective mother, is basically the exact opposite of Fiona, who was cosmopolitan woman who lived for luxury and vanity, while being a protector of the minorities but an awful mother, for example. But they all look the same indeed.

THANK YOU!

if you dont pay attentions to the nuances than obviously its easy to assume she plays the same person. but in reality they are different. Constance was deluded while sister jude was harsh and cynical. Fiona was the opposite of jude with her overindulgence and selfishness. While Elsa was selfless( to an extent) and empathetic

[TheResidentZionist 128]

I don''t like the sound of "capitalizing on Gagas own struggle" but yeah it is neat that he writes that way

Its not like he is capitalizing in a negative way. I think the reason why this show has such good performances and writing is because he makes it relatable for the actors.

Sarah Paulson is a lesbian and Lana Winters was faced with the oppression of her s-xuality by society in season 2. Something i bet Paulson can relate to perfectly

[Red 97,522]

THANK YOU!

if you dont pay attentions to the nuances than obviously its easy to assume she plays the same person. but in reality they are different. Constance was deluded while sister jude was harsh and cynical. Fiona was the opposite of jude with her overindulgence and selfishness. While Elsa was selfless( to an extent) and empathetic

I think that what makes people think it is all the same is that she played the strong female in every season and she looks the same in every character, with small subtle changes in her hairstyle only. But they are very different.

[TheResidentZionist 128]

I used to think so before watching the show but now I think completely different, there's an abyss between every character she played. Constance, who was a strict suburban judgemental overprotective mother, is basically the exact opposite of Fiona, who was cosmopolitan woman who lived for luxury and vanity, while being a protector of the minorities but an awful mother, for example. But they all look the same indeed.

Also this begs the question of  are the characters connected to each other in someway. Im sure we are familiar with the idea that each season is like a circle of hell with these people evolving from season to season like reincarnation. If so, then one can assume that Lange's characters carry their strengths and struggles to each new incarnation.

TO me the BIGGEST GIVEAWAY that this was a possibility is that Elsa Mars's wooden legs were made of KNOTTY PINE (the horror!) yet it was something that Elsa was content with while Fiona flipped a B***h