Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock Lillian GaoSarah Paulson and Evan Peters have each done an impressive nine-out-of-ten seasons on FX's "American Horror Story" as of today — quite the feat given both's busy schedules outside of the horror anthology universe. While Peters gained widespread adulation for his role as the Marvel superhero Quicksilver in the "X-Men" films and (briefly) on Disney+'s "WandaVision" — as well as garnering his first Emmy in September for his role on "Mare of Easttown" — Paulson kept expanding her own award-winning portfolio on stage, film, and television, with leading roles like Linda Tripp in "American Crime Story: Impeachment" and as a mother with Munchausen by Proxy in Hulu's "Run."
Within the universe of "AHS" itself, the two actors often worked intimately together. They were twice-married on the anthology show (spoiler alerts ahead!), with Season 4, "Freak Show," seeing one of Paulson's conjoined twins Dot and Bette ultimately marry to Peters' Jimmy Darling, a young man born with a hand deformity. Fast-forward two seasons, and Paulson and Peters found themselves kissing in a confessional booth on "Roanoke," the sixth season of the anthology series, as a pair of married actors. It was "AHS: Cult," the series' eighth season, however, that saw the most personal, intense scene-work between the two thespians, as Peters portrayed a cult leader incessantly antagonizing Paulson's Ally as her own personal terrorist (via Entertainment Weekly). One scene in which Peters' Kai merely speaks to Ally outside her door is one of the most terrifying in the show's history.
Given their on-screen magic together, what is the duo's offscreen relationship like? The answer just might amuse you...
Sarah Paulson returned to American Horror Story just for Evan Peters
Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesNeither Evan Peters nor Sarah Paulson returned for "American Horror Story: 1984," with Paulson shooting Hulu's "Mrs. America," per Vulture, and Peters citing the show's emotional toll on him, as he told GQ (via Us Weekly). Luckily for "AHS" diehards, both longtime castmates reappeared in the show's tenth season, "Double Feature," which premiered in August. Although Peters has not spoken publicly about the choice to come back, Paulson long teased her return might be conditional upon Peters'. In a 2019 interview, Paulson told TV Guide, "I need to be a part of it again. I would like to do something with Evan. I miss Evan and I miss acting with Evan. So I'd love to have that experience again. If he'll come back, I'm back."
There is no doubt the two "AHS" staples are not just friends but also close confidants. When Paulson discussed her directorial debut on the eighth season of "AHS" to The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed the first person to help her foment the idea to direct was Peters himself. "Around Season 6, Evan and I were talking about ... guest directors who come into this world you've been inhabiting," Paulson shared, adding, "Evan and I ended up looking at each other, going, "Maybe we have a real idea about what that would be, given how long we've lived here."
Could Sarah Paulson harbor a (not-so) secret crush on Evan Peters?
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesNot only does Sarah Paulson adore Evan Peters as a coworker and pal, but based on her candid interviews, it's possible the actor might have a special something for her "American Horror Story" co-star — even if that something is just their on-screen chemistry. While Peters has dated several "American Horror Story" co-stars, including Emma Roberts and Alexandra Breckenridge, per PopSugar, Paulson has not been one of them. But that didn't stop her from telling GoldDerby in 2017 that she enjoyed every onscreen smooch she and Peters shared.
"That was the second time I got to make out with Evan because I was in 'Freak Show,'" Paulson said giddily about their fourth-season love scene. "Towards the end of the season, remember we were — one of the twins and Lobster Boy — were happily married to Evan." With her character also married to Peters' in "Roanoke," she couldn't have been more thrilled, revealing the biggest perk for her of returning — aside from getting to adlib many of her lines — was that "I got be married to Evan Peters — which who doesn't want to do that?" You said it, sister.
And Paulson couldn't help but gush about Peters' first Emmy win in September. "This is a historic moment for everyone here who has ever loved Evan Peters," she said effusively on Instagram live.
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