Warning: this story contains spoilers for the American Horror Story: 13 finale. Read at your own risk!
Paul Anthony Kelly knew from the outset he would be playing the devil in AHS: 13. But he didn’t expect “compassion” to be one of the character’s defining traits.
“Not many people think of that as a superpower, but it is,” he tells Gold Derby. The character’s compassion was on full display during Thursday’s finale, particularly when he brought Cordelia Goode (Sarah Paulson) out of hell and announced he’d be putting aside his desires to take over humanity.
The actor, who skyrocketed to fame when he played the late John F. Kennedy Jr. in Love Story, describes Mr. Nas, aka Satan, as “an old Hollywood type: suave, sophisticated, easy, laid-back, charming,” adding that “he doesn’t come off as super evil, but it’s there.”
In the 13th and final episode, Cordelia and Mallory (Billie Lourd) get the upper hand on Mr. Nas by using his son, Ben (Joey Pollari), against him. The witches then cast the devil into Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, where he will reside for the rest of time as the new face of Judas.
“I thought it was a great way to go,” Kelly tells us. “It really felt full circle in terms of how we as humanity see the devil.” The first time he saw himself in the iconic painting, he thought it was “hilarious,” declaring, “What an honor to see your face in there!”
Also in this exclusive interview, Kelly talks about who he didn’t get to work with among the all-star cast, what it was like to dance with Jessica Lange despite having “two left feet,” and whether he’d want to return for American Horror Story Season 14.
Gold Derby: It’s not every day I get to talk to People‘s Sexiest Man Alive centerfold.
Paul Anthony Kelly: It’s not every day that you are considered People‘s Sexiest Man Alive. [Laughs.] It’s interesting to be thought of that way. I’m here for it, sure.
How did Ryan Murphy originally pitch the character of Mr. Nas to you?
Ryan called me when Love Story was coming out and said, “Hey, so I do this show, American Horror Story.” And I was like, “Yes, yes, I’m aware.” He said, “We’re doing Season 13. I’m doing it a little differently,” and pitched me on the premise of the show. At the end of the pitch, he said, “So, do you want to play the devil?” I said, “Yes, I do. That would be fun.”
He’s kind of an old Hollywood type: suave, sophisticated, easy, laid-back, charming. He doesn’t come off as super evil, but it’s there. It was a fun ride, with excellent days at work. I got to work with Jessica Lange, which was incredible; Sarah Paulson, who was incredible; and John Waters, who I’ve been a fan of forever. Billie Lourd, Emma Roberts, Joey Pollari — the list is long. All of these Horror Story royalty. It was just a wonderful experience. I feel very, very fortunate.
Is there anyone in the cast you didn’t get to work with? It’s such a big cast.
I mean, it’s enormous. There were quite a few people I didn’t get to work with, but I did get to meet: Kathy Bates, Frances Conroy. I didn’t get to work with Frances, but she’s a legend. Probably tons of others, too. Mena Suvari was there, Orlando Jones. The list keeps going!
The show was so full of twists and turns. Which one caught you off-guard the most?
Being Constance’s father was like, “OK.” But yeah, the show is just full of twists and turns. It was so fun getting the scripts as they were being written. I’d think, “Oh my gosh, wow, OK. Whoa, we’re over here now.” It was a blast and so fun.
The finale ends with the witches cursing the devil to live for eternity inside the Last Supper painting as Judas. What did you make of that ending for your character?
I thought it was a great way to go. It really felt full circle in terms of how we as humanity see the devil. It’s a little bit ironic.
When you saw that painting for the first time, what did you think of seeing yourself depicted in it?
I thought it was hilarious. It was so fun. What an honor to see your face in there! [Laughs.]
The devil had so many different superpowers. Which was your favorite to play with?
Compassion. Not many people think of that as a superpower, but it is.
What was it like filming with Sarah in the middle of Washington Square Park with so many people watching?
Tons of people. Filming anything outside in New York garners a crowd. Filming anything with Sarah Paulson garners a crowd. There were a lot of hoots and hollers, people with cameras, and people trying to get a sneak peek. I had blonde hair and a leather trench coat, and it was about 100 degrees outside. It was a lot of fun, but it definitely gets difficult when you’re out there. There are a lot of distractions.
Your character had the blonde wig, but the older version of you, played by Fedor Steer, had the whole getup. Are you happy you didn’t have to go through that makeup process?
Initially, I had asked if I could do both. I thought it would be a lot of fun. But they got another actor who is a slightly taller stature than me — and I’m tall. I’m 6-3, and I think Fedor is 6-5, maybe. He was in the chair for five hours getting ready, and then it took three hours taking it all off. I’m glad I didn’t have to sit through all of that. At some point, I’d love to do something that is absolutely transformational. But playing two characters like that would be quite a job. [Laughs.]
The writing on the show is so sassy. Did you have a favorite line of dialogue?
It’s so sassy! I got to say some pretty crazy things. Maybe in the finale, when he says that the “two dumb bitches don’t got the juice.” Yeah, it’s not every day you get to call Sarah Paulson and Billie Lourd “dumb bitches.” I don’t do that lightly.
Tell me about dancing with Jessica Lange. That must have been a career highlight for you.
Truly. It’s definitely something I’ll cherish forever. Neither of us knew how to dance. We learned maybe an hour or two before we started filming. I have two left feet and am a notoriously poor dancer. We were learning as we went, and we’d make mistakes, but it was all laughs and giggles and a lot of fun. She’s incredible.
If you could be in any former American Horror Story season, which would it be and why?
I would probably want to be in Freak Show. I think the traveling carnival of it all is, for me, super scary. I don’t know who I would play in that, but I think it would be a lot of fun to be in that world. I am genuinely terrified by the carnival.
Season 14 of American Horror Story has been announced. Would you be interested in coming back and playing a wholly new character?
I would love to. If I get the opportunity, that’d be great.
Congratulations on Love Story being such a hit, winning the Emmy for Best Casting. That must have been super cool, especially since it was your first major role.
First major role, yeah. My co-stars Sarah Pidgeon and Constance Zimmer were nominated. It’s amazing! Not bad for a first go at this. I had such a wonderful time making it, and the fact that it was nominated is just icing on the cake.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
