Elle Chapman landed her role on American Horror Story: 13 thanks to a text message from a co-star, a dinner she almost skipped, and a last-minute flight to New York. The actress plays Ashley, Kira’s friend who survived a plane crash over the Bermuda Triangle alongside Kira’s boyfriend, Ben DeSoto. Chapman spoke to Decider about how the gig came together, the stunts she got to do, and why she is not afraid of Ryan Murphy anymore.
How Chapman Got The Role
Chapman was in New York for the premiere of The Madison, her Sheridanverse project. Her co-star Patrick J. Adams is friends with Eric Souliere, the casting director for AHS. Adams texted her that she could stop by during dinner with some friends.
“I was pretty tired, but I was in New York City, so I figured, what the hell!” Chapman recalled. She chatted with Souliere briefly, and later he thought of her for the role of Ashley. Chapman taped an audition, and two weeks later she got a call to fly to New York in two days.
“It was the most surreal, exciting thing ever,” she said.
Ashley’s Connection To Ben
Ashley first meets Ben through Kira, played by Madelaine Petsch. Their friendship deepens into something romantic as Episode 5 progresses. Chapman says the bond between her character and Ben mirrors the bond between the actors.
“Our characters obviously first connect over Kira, but then there’s an intimacy that really grows between us,” she said. “That’s exactly what happened off-screen between Joey and me. We have become such good friends.”
Joey Pollari, who plays Ben, “is doing a phenomenal job anchoring the season,” Chapman said. She added that Joey will be at her wedding one day.
Piggy Man And The Scars
Ashley survived a massacre at the hands of Piggy Man, who first appeared in Murder House and later in Roanoke. She also survived a COVID wedding gone wrong. The injuries left her covered in pig-skin grafts to conceal the damage.
“At first, I didn’t really understand the importance of Piggy Man,” Chapman admitted. She got close with the special effects team, who explained the Roanoke lore to her during long sessions in the makeup chair.
She was scared to film the scene. “We were filming at night. We were at this house in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “The special effects team did such a great job with the Piggy Man head. It looked so real!”
When director Jesse Peretz told her to run for her life, Chapman replied, “Yeah, got it.”
Pressure Or Excitement?
Chapman admits she felt less pressure than excitement, since she had barely watched AHS before filming. “Because I hadn’t really watched the show until after we wrapped, it actually made it less scary because I didn’t know what I had to live up to,” she said.
Joey Pollari had a harder job, since he plays the main character tying together past seasons. Chapman thinks he did great work. “I know the fans ride hard for their favorites, so I’m hoping that we live up to their expectations,” she said.
What Chapman Won’t Tease
Chapman was not told much about Ashley’s full story ahead of time. She learned that Ashley appears in Episode 1 as a side character, then survives in Episode 5.
She was thrilled to learn about the romantic arc with Ben. But she will not speculate beyond that.
“I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories,” she said when asked about the potential connection between Piggy Man and Ashley’s pig-skin grafts.
The Bottom Line
Chapman is now a Ryan Murphy fan. She binge-watched the show while filming and says she will do anything he asks next time.
She is also proud of the stunts she got to do. “I think you and Joey Pollari have really difficult jobs portraying new characters in a season that connects back to every season of the iconic series so far,” she said. “Did you feel any pressure or just excitement?”
Her answer: excitement, mostly.
| Episode | Plot Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ashley appears as a side character |
| 5 | Ashley survives, and her romance with Ben begins |
- Ashley survived a plane crash over the Bermuda Triangle
- She also survived a massacre by Piggy Man
- She is covered in pig-skin grafts to hide her scars
- Her story connects to Murder House and Roanoke
Chapman’s journey from dinner guest to AHS regular is a reminder that sometimes the best roles come from the strangest places. She almost skipped that dinner, and now she is covered in pig-skin grafts for a show she once feared.
Source material: “Don’t Ask ‘AHS: 13’ Elle Chapman To Tease What’s Next For Ashley And Ben: “If I Say Anything, Piggy Man Is Going To Come And Kill Me”,” Decider.
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