Watch Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe in ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ PromoPosted by Wilson Morales
September 10, 2013
FX has released a new promo for their upcoming series, American Horror Story: Coven, featuring cast members Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Gabourey Sibide, Evan Peters and Jamie Brewer.
This season focuses on witchcraft in New Orleans, and spans several time periods. Lange and Bassett play the leaders of their separate covens, while Bates plays the real-life Madame LaLaurie, a socialite who tortured and killed her slaves in 19th century New Orleans. Paulson plays Lange’s daughter and, from this promo, it looks like Farmiga, Sibide and Brewer all play young witches being initiated into the covens. Peters again does a lot of brooding.
During the FX portion of the TCA Press Tour last month, Angela Bassett talked to Collider.com about her character.
What can you say about your character, this season?
BASSETT: Well, I play Marie Laveau. It’s been interesting, being in New Orleans, because there’s such a regard and respect for who she was. She lived to about 80 years old, and she was a very influential person in the city. My character is based loosely on her.
Angela, did you do research into Marie Laveau? How close is this incarnation to the real woman?
BASSETT: I read a fictional novel by Tallant, called The Voodoo Queen. I’ve read two books about her, one that’s more historical and one that’s her life, but put into novel form. It’s just very interesting. We’ve been filming in the French Quarter. But, I don’t know exactly where it’s going, so I’m remaining open and just picking up little things. Her father was French Creole, and he gave her gold earrings. Spain occupied Louisiana longer than the French did. I’m also talking to folks from there and just getting a take on how they see her or what they feel about her, to get a sense of who she was and her power in the 1800s, as this black Creole woman.
Angela, what got you to return to TV again? Was it just this show, in particular?
BASSETT: This was just perfect. I just got a call to come in and meet Ryan. I watched every single episode, but to hear him talk about it, and knowing who would be joining the cast, and that it would be shot in New Orleans, which is one of my favorite cities – for the music, the food, the character and their love of death – and people from different strata live within 10 to 15 minutes of each other, it’s just very unique. There is such a history of that town, with free people of color, slaves, whites and Haitians. That I would be able to be in a city that I love, working with artists that I love, that obviously write for women, and to be able also to come home and not neglect my family for six months straight, it had everything going for it, as far as I was concerned.
American Horror Story: Coven is set to premiere Oct. 9.
