American Horror Story: Hotel was full of memorable characters, but Denis O'Hare's Liz Taylor was top-tier and stood out as the best.
The show's fifth season revolved around the many inhabitants surrounding the fictional Hotel Cortez. Originally owned and operated by the murderous James March (Evan Peters) and his wife, who is known as The Countess (Lady Gaga), the hotel has seen numerous guests come and go throughout the years. Many perish on the property and never actually leave in a similar concept of purgatory that is explored in season one and season nine.
The season on the whole was a departure for the show, primarily because it was the first without Jessica Lange. The inclusion of Lady Gaga brought a different fanbase, but overall, reviews were mixed from critics but audiences tended to err on the more positive side, with it becoming a fan-favorite in recent years. American Horror Story: Hotel brought back alumni cast members including Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, and Even Peters. However, Denis O'Hare, who had been with the cast since the show's first season, created a standout character: Liz Taylor.
Liz Taylor is first introduced as the hotel's bartender who is always willing to bend an ear to listen to a patron's troubles and give her snarky, but strangely maternal advice. During her time working at the Blue Parrot Lounge, she has befriended front desk clerk, Iris (Kathy Bates), and has a strange relationship with The Countess, who lives in the hotel. Liz shows a resilience and fearlessness, particularly when she, as a transgender woman, is subjected to misgendering, homophobic slurs, and other mistreatment. She is known for her fashion sense, which draws inspiration from the real actress, Elizabeth Taylor. Her wise demeanor makes her trustworthy to many patrons, and even the more volatile guests seem to have a soft spot for her. Despite the occasional harsh treatment she endures, Liz never seems to falter in her identity and doesn't allow anyone to bring her down, which is a cornerstone for the character.
Liz was originally raised in Topeka, Kansas as Nick Pryor. Before her transition, she was married and had a son. She hid her identity from her family, and would take women's clothing along with her on business trips and dress up in them when she was in the privacy of her hotel rooms. Liz's past is explored in that she felt ashamed of her proclivities for dressing in women's clothing, but was encouraged to embrace her true self when she met Elizabeth (Lady Gaga), who walked in on her wearing one of her wife's dresses and told Liz that despite her male appearance, she could smell her true identity - a woman - in her blood.
Not only was Liz Taylor beloved by fans for her character, but many LGBTQ people praised Denis O'Hare's performance and commitment to the role, as it brought a transgender character to television as a protagonist and didn't lean on negative characteristics or stereotypes, as is commonly seen in horror. Taylor's backstory embraced acceptance and coming into one's own instead of being ashamed or hiding, as many queer people feel is necessary for survival. Even though Denis O'Hare is a man, he was serious about committing to the role and not playing the character as a caricature or diminishing what trans people experience; he wanted the character to feel like a real person and fully embraced the spirit of the role. Ryan Murphy, who is an out gay man, gave O'Hare few directions as to how to play the role, giving him more of a visual picture than specific notes. O'Hare has expressed being initially nervous about the role, but has said that he embraces roles that make him scared, citing that fear makes him more excited to bring a character to life. This is likely why O'Hare is featured in so many seasons of American Horror Story. He is a chameleon who can easily lose himself in any role.
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