'AHS: Hotel' : Angela Bassett Previews the 'Twisted' Season

You’d think it’d be hard to shock a woman you’ve already cast as a tri-breasted freak married to a closeted strong man. Yet Angela Bassett swears that shock is exactly what she felt when she heard about the cast (Lady Gaga!) and concept for her latest foray into Ryan Murphy-ville, American Horror Story: Hotel. “Honestly, you can not anticipate what they will come up with no matter how many seasons you have been on. Not even after you get told the title and Hotel was no different,” Bassett tells Yahoo TV. “All you know for sure is that it will be original and twisted and a lot of fun to work on.” The actress gave us the lowdown on her third AHS go-round.

How would you describe your character, Ramona Royale?
She is an LA girl who grew up on the outskirts. She made herself successful, but she still wants to go mainstream and wants to be considered for all kinds of roles and to get that success might mean compromising herself a little bit. She is opposed to doing that, until she meets someone that sees her potential for what it is. She meets Lady Gaga’s character and suddenly she questions how far is too far to get what she wants in her life and career? She falls into a relationship with her that is beneficial, until it’s not.

Which seems to be par for the course for relationships in the AHS universe.
Yeah, definitely. These characters and their relationships are complicated and dangerous and unhealthy. But that is often true in life.

Related: ‘AHS: Hotel’: Everything We Know So Far

Given that you are an actress who made your way from unknown to Golden Globe winner and Oscar and Emmy nominee, could you Ramona more than other characters you’ve played for AHS?
There are some places where we intersect, but I hope I don’t compromise my values for career. I try not to, although this role will require more of me than I, Angela, give. I am going to stretch a little bit and you will see me in new situations. It is an interesting question because I am an actress and she is an actress, but I would not go as far as this character goes. Angela is private yet open. I try to be above board but I am mostly a private person. Ramona will cross the line if something is titillating and intriguing to her. There are instances where she will do whatever it takes. That’s not me. It is what an actress wants — to play roles that you have never seen yourself in, that are a challenge. This one is going to be a challenge for me. At least for the first few episodes out of the gate.

Bassett as Ramona Royale in AHS: Hotel

In that sense, are you happy this was not your first Ryan Murphy rodeo?
Absolutely. I am still shocked and they have upped the ante yet again, but I am happy that I have gotten the crazy in increments over the last three years. That helps one adjust and get comfortable.

What is it about this show or this team that keeps all of you coming back season after season?
Well, you have the writing first and foremost. The writing is stellar. You can’t beat the cast. The fans are with you from the beginning to the end and they wait for you. They are terrific and supportive. And each year, you get to play a different character. You don’t get bored. It is a complete story. Thirteen [episodes], you are in and out. There are no conversations about seven years down the road.

I would think seven years with three breasts would have gotten old.
[Laughs] Yes. That’s a lot of hours in a chair. This way we get out on top and go on to another top and then another top, another level. Each year is a completely different and satisfying experience.

Bassett with Kathy Bates in American Horror Story: Freak Show

Speaking of fresh blood, the show said goodbye to Jessica Lange, but in exchange we get Lady Gaga. How has working with her been?
I haven’t met her yet. I think she is beautiful, intriguing, talented and mysterious, yet seems warm and regular in a way. I was very sad that Jessica decided not to do this season. She was a fearless leader of our gang, but I do think that Lady Gaga is a perfect fit for this world. From what I understand, she is a huge fan of the show and she came to Ryan. She certainly has a very theatrical quality to her music career that will come in handy. I am looking forward to it. We will meet on equal footing when we do our first scene together because she doesn’t know me either.

What do you think about the setting for this year’s show?
It is set in a hotel, which is perfect because hotels are where there are residents and transients, locked doors and secrets, and things the public never hears about happen and get covered up. People do things in hotels that they would not do at home, and that leaves the sky the limit in terms of ideas.

The gore factor last season was extremely high and Ryan Murphy has already mentioned mattresses with people sewn in them. Have you seen anything super gross that you can tease?
Oh lord. He mentioned that mattress the other day and I just can’t. But honestly I haven’t been on set yet so I haven’t seen the mattress yet or the glorious hotel or the working elevator and the rooms so beautifully appointed. I have just heard about them at this point. My character doesn’t live in the hotel. I just visit from time to time so I have only been in my vintage Jaguar driving around. It was supposedly Frank Sinatra’s back in the day. That’s the rumor. So Ramona is doing ok.

American Horror Story: Hotel premieres Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. on FX