Elle Chapman Joins ‘American Horror Story: 13’ After Chance Encounter

Elle Chapman, who recently made an impact in Taylor Sheridan's "The Madison," has landed a role in the upcoming season of FX's "American Horror Story: 13." Chapman plays Ashley, a friend of Kira's (Madelaine Petsch) who survives a plane crash along with Kira's boyfriend, Ben DeSoto (Joey Pollari).

Chapman's entry into the "American Horror Story" universe was serendipitous. She met casting director Eric Souliere through her "The Madison" co-star Patrick J. Adams, who is friends with Souliere. A casual dinner invitation led to an audition, and soon after, Chapman found herself flying to New York to film for the series.

"I was pretty tired, but I was in New York City, so I figured, what the hell!" Chapman recalled of the chance meeting with Souliere. "I didn’t know what Eric did for a living, and we just chatted for a bit. Later, he thought of me for the role of Ashley."

Initially, Chapman wasn't privy to much information about her character, only knowing she would appear in the first episode. However, as the season progressed, Ashley's role expanded, revealing a romantic connection with Ben and a harrowing backstory.

Chapman's character, Ashley, has a past encounter with the Piggy Man, a terrifying figure first introduced in "American Horror Story: Roanoke" and "Murder House." This connection becomes particularly unsettling as Ashley is now covered in pig skin grafts, a result of injuries sustained in the plane crash.

"I thought it was super interesting," Chapman said about the potential link between the Piggy Man and Ashley's skin grafts. "I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories."

Chapman also shared her experience working with co-star Joey Pollari. "Our characters obviously first connect over Kira, but then there’s an intimacy that really grows between us," she explained. "That’s exactly what happened off-screen between Joey and me. We have become such good friends."

When asked about the pressures of joining a long-running, lore-heavy series, Chapman admitted that her initial lack of extensive "AHS" viewing made the process less daunting. "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. "Now that I’ve watched a lot of seasons, I’m like, 'Damn it. I hope that I was able to do it.'"

Chapman detailed the filming of her encounter with the Piggy Man, describing it as a frightening experience shot at night in an isolated location. She also highlighted the stunt work involved, particularly being "yanked out of an airplane," which she found exhilarating due to her affinity for extreme sports.

Regarding what fans can expect from Ashley and Ben's storyline, Chapman remained tight-lipped, humorously warning, "If I say anything, Piggy Man is going to come and kill me."