If an enterprising radio host walks up to Denis O’Hare of “American Horror Story” and asks to interview him on her radio show, there is an excellent chance that he will say yes. That’s just what happened to Molly Silverman, a senior communication major and host of “Generation Disconnected” on KSU OWL Radio. Silverman was attending Walker Stalker Con in Atlanta when she struck up a conversation with O’Hare.
O’Hare came straight from the set of “American Horror Story: Hotel” to talk about his experience with being a part of the show.
“I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for Spalding,” O’Hare said. “I loved his little universe and his room with his dolls, and his phonograph, and the way he would dance around. But, that being said, I do feel like Liz is shaping up to be pretty monumental.”
O’Hare, who currently plays Liz Taylor on “American Horror Story: Hotel,” explained what makes his character come to life onscreen.
“All I can do is be true to the character and have the character have integrity. She’s not always going to be right. She’s not always going to be kind. She’s not always going to be understandable. She’s a human being, and human beings have all sorts of motivations,” O’Hare said.
O’Hare said that part of being true to the character is taking part in pre-show rituals that help him prepare to release Liz in her full glory onscreen.
“I want to be in costume when I hit the set for rehearsal. I’ve always done that, even before Liz,” O’Hare said. “I have to have the script I’m working on in my bag at all times, even if I never look at it, and if I don’t have the script, I get really freaked out.”
An essential part of Liz Taylor’s persona is her wardrobe, which is unlocked under the guidance of set costume designer Lou Eyrich.
“Lou, she’s our costume designer, and she comes up with it. Then we try it on together, and we look together, and we’ll often look and go, ‘Eh, this isn’t Liz.’ So we’ll add a hat maybe, or a turban, or the right jewels,” O’Hare said.
O’Hare reinforced that the success of his character is not the result of a one-man show, but the product of a collaborative effort.
“Whenever anybody compliments me, it’s lovely, and I take it, but I also sort of remind them that…it’s the writing, it’s the directing, it’s the other actors. Half of the battle is being given a great part; it’s yours to flub or to succeed with. The starting place is really important,” O’Hare said.
O’Hare then confessed that he still gets star struck when another big name comes on set, such as Patti LuPone, Stevie Nicks, Neil Patrick Harris, Lady Gaga, and many more.
“The thing about this job is you never know who’s going to come around the corner,” O’Hare said. “This year it was Naomi Campbell. It’s crazy!”
O’Hare had a simple piece of advice for those that want to work with the stars and reach the glamor and glitz of show business.
“Know what your motivation is. Be honest with yourself about your agenda, and there’s no good or bad agenda,” O’Hare said. “It depends on who you want to be.”
O’Hare closed the interview with a pearl of wisdom that has helped him shape his life into what it is today.
“Do what you love. My father told me…you can do something you love, in which case you don’t really worry about the money, or you can make a lot of money and try to buy yourself the things you love.”
“American Horror Story: Hotel” airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. “Generation Disconnected” broadcasts on ksuradio.com on Thursdays from 8-10 p.m.
