After making her mark in the Sheridanverse with The Madison, Elle Chapman is taking on Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: 13. Her casting as Ashley—the friend of Kira (Madelaine Petsch) who survives a Bermuda Triangle plane crash alongside Kira’s boyfriend, Ben DeSoto (Joey Pollari)—came about thanks to her The Madison co-star Patrick J. Adams. Adams is close friends with AHS casting director Eric Souliere and introduced the pair over dinner, an encounter Chapman nearly skipped.
“They were having dinner with some friends, and Patrick texted me and told me I could stop by if I wanted,” Chapman explained. “I was pretty tired, but I was in New York City, so I figured, what the hell!” After meeting Souliere, Chapman was eventually invited to tape an audition for AHS: 13. “I was at a rodeo for Taylor Sheridan, and I got a call that I had to fly to New York in two days and go do the show,” she recalled. “It was the most surreal, exciting thing ever.”
Chapman knew little about Ashley when she joined the series, but she was thrilled to discover that the character’s relationship with Ben develops into a romance during Episode 5. “Our characters obviously first connect over Kira, but then there’s an intimacy that really grows between us,” Chapman said. “That’s exactly what happened off-screen between Joey and me. We have become such good friends.”
Ashley also tells Ben that surviving the plane crash was not her first brush with death. Before the crash, she escaped a massacre carried out by Piggy Man—the horror figure introduced in Murder House and later featured in Roanoke—during a disastrous COVID-era wedding. Adding another unsettling detail, Ashley now has pig-skin grafts covering the injuries she suffered in the crash. “I thought it was super interesting,” Chapman said of the possible connection between Piggy Man and Ashley’s grafts. “I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories.”
Chapman spoke with Decider about landing the role, filming the show’s most demanding stunts, and building her connection with Pollari on set.
DECIDER: Tell me how your AHS role came to be. What was the audition process like?
ELLE CHAPMAN: The funny thing is that I had never watched American Horror Story growing up. My sister was the fan. I used to be terrified of the show, but after filming a season myself, I’m not scared anymore. I’ve watched several seasons now, and I absolutely love it.
The story behind the audition is pretty funny. I was in New York for the premiere of The Madison. My co-star Patrick J. Adams is close friends with Eric Souliere, the casting director for American Horror Story. They were having dinner with a few friends, and Patrick texted me to say I could come by if I wanted.
I was exhausted, but I was in New York City, so I thought, why not? I had no idea what Eric did for a living, and we chatted for a little while. Later, he remembered me when the role of Ashley came up. He asked my team whether I would tape an audition, and of course I was happy to do it. Two weeks later, I was at a Taylor Sheridan rodeo when I got the call that I needed to fly to New York in two days to join the show. It was the most surreal, exciting thing ever.
What were you told about Ashley? Were you allowed to develop some of her backstory?
I wasn’t given much information when I booked the part. I knew she appeared in Episode 1, but she seemed to be a supporting character. Then, in Episode 5, viewers learn that she survived. That was essentially all I knew until we got closer to production. I had to trust the team, which was easy because by then I was binge-watching the series and was completely amazed by it. After working on this show, I’ll do anything Ryan Murphy asks me to do.
Joey Pollari is doing a phenomenal job anchoring the season. What was it like working with him?
In Episode 5, our characters initially bond over Kira, but their relationship gradually becomes more intimate. That mirrors what happened between Joey and me off-screen. Episode 5 is especially meaningful to both of us because we met while making the show and have become incredibly close friends. Joey will be at my wedding someday [laughs]. I love him so much. Beneath these characters, there was a genuine connection between us as actors, and that made the scenes feel very special.
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You and Joey Pollari have challenging roles, playing new characters in a season that connects with every previous chapter of the iconic series. Did that bring pressure, or were you mostly excited to expand the AHS universe?
Because I hadn’t really watched the show until after we finished filming, I think that actually made things less intimidating. I didn’t know what I was supposed to live up to [laughs]. Now that I’ve seen so many seasons, I’m thinking, “Damn it. I hope I was able to do it.” Joey had the more difficult assignment because his character is the central link connecting all of those previous characters. Still, I think he did an incredible job. I know fans are fiercely loyal to their favorites, so I hope we meet their expectations.
It turns out Ashley is something of a final girl. She survived a massacre by Piggy Man from Roanoke and Murder House! What was your reaction when you learned about Ashley’s connection to AHS history?
At first, I didn’t understand why Piggy Man was so important. I became very close with the special effects team because they were responsible for creating my character’s scars. I spent about four hours in the makeup chair with them each time we filmed. They explained the Roanoke storyline and Piggy Man’s history to me, and then I did some research of my own.
I was nervous to shoot that scene because we filmed it at night, at a house in the middle of nowhere. The special effects team created an incredibly realistic Piggy Man head, and it genuinely scared me. While we were filming the sequence, our director, Jesse Peretz, told me, “Okay, and now you’re gonna run for your life.” I said, “Yeah, got it. I’d love to do that.”
Which stunt was more fun: fleeing from Piggy Man or being pulled from an airplane?
Being pulled from the airplane! I worked with an amazing stuntwoman who was incredibly helpful. The crew showed me how she performed the stunt, and I asked, “Wait, can I try this myself?” She walked me through it, explaining how to turn my shoulder. She was so supportive. I was strapped into the harness, but I had no idea how quickly I would be yanked out of the plane.
The video I posted of me doing the stunt on Instagram showed us doing the sequence at half speed. That’s not how fast it actually was. It was a little scary, but I’m also such an adrenaline junkie, so I wanted to do it again and again. I skateboard, and I’m really into any kind of extreme sport. That day on set was really fun for me. Plus, Madelaine Petsch was so great to work with. We just had a blast.
It’s interesting that after escaping Piggy Man, Ashley is now part pig with those skin grafts she received after the plane crash. What do you think?
I thought it was super interesting [laughs]. I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories
Is there anything you can tease about Ashley’s and Ben’s journey after Episode 5?
I feel like if I say anything Piggy Man is going to come and kill me [laughs]. I can tell you that you’ll see more of her, but that’s it!