‘American Horror Story: 13’: Paul Anthony Kelly Says “There’s Some Good” to Mr. Nas as Jessica Lange’s Secret Fifth Character Is Unveiled

Logo text [This story contains MAJOR spoilers from episode four of American Horror Story season 13, “Is That All There Is.”] Paul Anthony Kelly has officially made his entrance in American Horror Story — and revealed the character he’s been keeping under wraps. Thursday’s three new episodes of American Horror Story: 13 delivered plenty of surprises, including Kelly’s first appearance this season as a younger version of Mr. Nas, the mysterious figure overseeing Ben (Joey Pollari) at the Apollyon. The reveal comes in episode four, “Is That All There Is?,” when Ben awakens from his drug-induced slumber and goes searching for Mr. Nas. After he falls, Nas picks him up and encourages him to keep drinking the black goo he’s been consuming throughout the season. But Nas’ appearance suddenly changes, revealing his younger form, played by Kelly. Kelly is coming off playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in Ryan Murphy‘s Emmy-winning series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette earlier this year. Portraying the late JFK Jr. was Kelly’s first TV role, which sent him into the spotlight. “It’s definitely a wild ride,” Kelly told The Hollywood Reporter at the show’s New York premiere about having his second-ever TV show be American Horror Story. “There is something to portraying a historical figure that you have to get right. And you have a wealth of information to absorb and integrate and then make your own,” he said. “But in American Horror Story, I was given free rein to create a character. The words and how you interpret them are on the page, but then to actually create something for yourself was difficult and scary.” He continued, “It’s my second project, so to go from something where I had to play within the box. This time, I was drawing outside the lines; it was difficult but so fun. I hope people like it. I had a great time.” Kelly’s character had been kept largely under wraps ahead of the season’s premiere, though the actor previously teased that Nas “fits right in nicely” with the returning AHS characters. Despite Nas emerging as one of the season’s primary antagonists, Kelly doesn’t necessarily view him as a straightforward villain. “I think he has villainous traits, but he’s not necessarily a villain — there’s some good,” he said. “If you bother to look and see, there’s some good.” As for what that good might be, viewers will have to wait and see. The fourth episode of this season also sheds new light on Nas’ connection to Jessica Lange‘s Constance Langdon. By the episode’s end, Constance reveals that she made a deal with the devil — Nas — after he summoned her in his most beautiful form and offered her the chance to help him create a new world order and gain the throne. Constance agrees on one condition: She wants the opportunity to be a mother again and “do it right” this time. The younger versions of Nas and Constance seal the deal with a kiss. The episode also brought back another one of Lange’s iconic AHS characters. Earlier in the episode, Lange reprises her role of Elsa Mars from season four’s Freak Show, performing a rendition of Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” during a satanic ritual. Lange as Elsa in AHS: 13 episode four. Eric Liebowitz/FX Elsa is presiding over a ceremony in which 13 women are offered as sacrifices to Mr. Nas, who is told they were taken before they could “reach their full potential.” Among those being sacrificed is former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, another character played by Lange and the mystery fifth role she previously teased she’d play this season. Elsa demands that Thatcher apologize for her crimes, but Thatcher refuses. Tate Langdon (Evan Peters), wearing his Rubber Man suit, then pushes her into the fiery pit. “Don’t cry for her, Argentina!” Elsa says. The episode ultimately reunites Constance with two of her children, Tate and Adelaide (Jamie Brewer), as the season continues to expand its connections to the show’s earlier installments. Kelly, meanwhile, said he was excited to join the AHS cast and work alongside returning franchise stars, including Lange. “I was ready to play with living legends,” he said. “It was fantastic every day,” he added of joining the cast. “I was getting to watch people who are masters of their craft and learn on the fly and have fun. It’s a very welcoming environment.” Click here to find out what happened in week two’s cliffhanger. *** New episodes of AHS: 13 premiere Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT on FX and 9 pm PT on Hulu, until the finale on Thursday, Oct. 29. Read all of THR’s season coverage here, including an explainer on how all the seasons connect.