After making a splash in the Sheridanverse in The Madison, Elle Chapman is diving into the world of Ryan Murphy with American Horror Story: 13. Funnily enough, she owes her role as Ashley, Kira’s (Madelaine Petsch) friend who survived the plane crash over the Bermuda Triangle along with Kira’s boyfriend, Ben DeSoto (Joey Pollari), to her The Madison co-star, Patrick J. Adams. Adams just happens to be good friends with AHS casting director Eric Souliere and introduced the two over dinner—a dinner which she almost didn’t attend.

“They were having dinner with some friends, and Patrick texted me and told me I could stop by if I wanted,” explained Chapman. “I was pretty tired, but I was in New York City, so I figured, what the hell!” After her chance meeting with Souliere, Chapman was later asked to tape an audition for a role in AHS: 13. “I was at a rodeo for Taylor Sheridan, and I got a call that I had to fly to New York in two days and go do the show,” remembered Chapman. “It was the most surreal, exciting thing ever.”

While Chapman wasn’t told much about the role of Ashley beforehand, she was delighted to learn that Ashley’s acquaintance with Ben turns into something more romantic as Episode 5 progresses. “Our characters obviously first connect over Kira, but then there’s an intimacy that really grows between us,” said Chapman. “That’s exactly what happened off-screen between Joey and me. We have become such good friends.”

Ashley also reveals to Ben that the plane crash she survived is not the first near-death experience she’s faced. Turns out, she escaped a massacre at the hands of Piggy Man—who first appeared in Murder House and later, Roanoke—at a COVID wedding gone awry. In an ironic twist, Ashley is now covered with pig skin grafts to conceal the injuries she sustained in the plane crash. “I thought it was super interesting,” said Chapman when asked about the potential connection between Piggy Man and Ashley’s pig skin grafts. “I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories .”

Chapman hopped on the phone with Decider to discuss her role, dish on the stunts she got to do on set, and more.

DECIDER: Tell me how your AHS role came to be. What was the audition process like?

ELLE CHAPMAN: Funny enough, I had never watched American Horror Story growing up. My sister was the fan. I used to be so scared of the show, but now—after filming a season myself—I’m not. I’ve seen a bunch of seasons now, and I just love it.

How I got the audition is a bit of a funny story. I was in New York for the premiere of The Madison. My co-star Patrick J. Adams is really good friends with Eric Souliere, the casting director for American Horror Story. They were having dinner with some friends, and Patrick texted me and told me I could stop by if I wanted.

I was pretty tired, but I was in New York City, so I figured, what the hell! 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. He asked my team if I’d be willing to tape, and of course I was happy to. Two weeks later, I was at a rodeo for Taylor Sheridan, and I got a call that I had to fly to New York in two days and go do the show. It was the most surreal, exciting thing ever.

What were you told about Ashley? Were you allowed to fill in her backstory a bit?

I wasn’t told much when I booked the role. They told me she was in Episode 1, but she appeared to be a side character. Later, you find out in Episode 5 that she survived. That was all I knew until we got closer to filming. I just had to trust the team, which was easy to do because at that point, I was binge-watching the show and just in awe of how amazing it is. After working on this show, I will do anything Ryan Murphy asks me to do.

Joey Pollari is doing a phenomenal job anchoring the season. What was it like working with him?

In Episode 5, our characters obviously first connect over Kira, but then there’s an intimacy that really grows between us. That’s exactly what happened off-screen between Joey and me. Episode 5 means so much to us because we met on this show, and we have become such good friends. Joey will be at my wedding one day [laughs]. I love him so much. Underneath these two characters, there is a real connection that we felt as actors. So, it’s really special.

I think you and Joey Pollari have really difficult jobs portraying new characters in a season that connects back to every season of the iconic series so far. Did you feel any pressure or just excitement to further expand the AHS universe?

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 [laughs]. Now that I’ve watched a lot of seasons, I’m like, “Damn it. I hope that I was able to do it.” Joey had a much more of a difficult job than I did because he’s the main character that’s tying all of these past characters together. But I think he did such a great job. I know the fans ride hard for their favorites, so I’m hoping that we live up to their expectations.

It turns out Ashley is a bit of a final girl. She survived a massacre at the hands of Piggy Man from Roanoke and Murder House! What was your reaction when you found out Ashley’s connection to past AHS lore?

At first, I didn’t really understand the importance of Piggy Man. I got really close with our special effects team because they had to do my characters’ scars. I was in the chair with them for four hours every time we shot. They explained Roanoke to me and the whole Piggy Man lore. After that, I did some research on my own.

I was scared to film that scene because we were filming at night. We were at this house in the middle of nowhere. The special effects team did such a great job with the Piggy Man head. It looked so real! I was so freaked out. When we were shooting that sequence, our director, Jesse Peretz told me, “Okay, and now you’re gonna run for your life.” I replied, “Yeah, got it. I’d love to do that.”

Which stunt was more fun: running from Piggy Man or getting yanked out of an airplane?

Getting yanked out of an airplane! I worked with this amazing stuntwoman. She was so incredibly helpful. The team showed me her doing the stunt, and then I was like, “Wait, can I try this myself?” She was like, “Okay, this is what you do. You’ve got to turn your shoulder this way.” She was just so supportive. I got strapped into the harness, but I did not expect how fast I would be yanked out of the plane .

The video I posted of me doing the stunt on Instagram showed us doing the sequence at half speed. That’s not how fast it actually was. It was a little scary, but I’m also such an adrenaline junkie, so I wanted to do it again and again. I skateboard, and I’m really into any kind of extreme sport. That day on set was really fun for me. Plus, Madelaine Petsch was so great to work with. We just had a blast.

It’s interesting that after escaping Piggy Man, Ashley is now part pig with those skin grafts she received after the plane crash. What do you think?

I thought it was super interesting [laughs]. I can’t say if there’s anything to it, but I’m curious to see the fan theories

Is there anything you can tease about Ashley’s and Ben’s journey after Episode 5?

I feel like if I say anything Piggy Man is going to come and kill me [laughs]. I can tell you that you’ll see more of her, but that’s it!