If there’s one thing American Horror Story’s anthology structure is good for above all else, it’s as a showcase for actors. The genre conventions of horror allow actors to go wild, playing demonic nuns and serial killers and final girls and addicts. That’s why, despite the show’s notorious reputation for falling off the wagon in the last third of each season or for entire seasons being skippable at best, we’ve seen some real stars emerge from the show or have their careers revitalized because of it.

Because where else can you see Jessica Lange play a scheming nun one season and a youth-obsessed witch the next? Or see Evan Peters play a maniacal right-wing cult leader alongside Andy Warhol, Charles Manson, and Jesus Christ all in one season?

Below, we've rounded up the 10 best actors from the series, based on the consistency and strength of their various performances throughout the series, along with some must-see roles.

Freak Show, considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the series’ worst seasons to date, had one bright spot – and that was Finn Wittrock, who played Dandy Mott, a stunted man-child turned mentally disturbed serial killer. While Mott is undoubtedly Wittrock’s most iconic AHS role (and let’s face it, she’s a tough one to top), he showed off his range as an inbred cannibal in Roanoke and a tortured writer in Double Feature.