American Rumor Story: Is Frances Conroy Coming Back For American Horror Story: Roanoke?

The latest season of American Horror Story may be a bigger head-screw than usual, but what did you really expect? Even though we are only on Episode 2, My Roanoke Nightmare has left us with a whole season's worth of questions and confusion. Whilst the world is still wondering where the holy hell Evan Peters is, the rumor mill is in full swing concerning the return of yet another AHS alumni...and if this rumor turns out to be true, it will make our year. You heard it here first kids: Frances Conroy might be storming back into FX's horror hit!

A Blast from the Past

Alongside the harem of returning actors, we were saddened to learn that Frances Conroy was not on the list of returning AHS stars this season. Admittedly Lily Rabe's 'mockumentary' appearance was kept a secret, but surely we would have heard of Conroy's return? The fabulous Ms. Myrtle Snow ranks alongside Jessica Lange as a fan-favourite. When watching Episode 2's 'murder nurses' storyline, I genuinely thought our prayers had been answered, spotting the similarities between Conroy and elderly Margaret.

After much in-office deliberation, I took to Twitter in search of the answer. It was confirmed that Margaret was actually played by actress Irene Rosseen , but the story inadvertently unearthed another little tit-bit of information. Twitter user @HaliJenn dropped the bomb of Conroy's return after apparently meeting the actress, who candidly confirmed her return for Episode 6:

Mott you talkin' about?

So, just who could Conroy be playing if she really is coming back? Slotting the pieces together, it actually makes a lot of sense — could we see a return of Norma Bates-incarnate Gloria Mott? If the Twitterverse is correct, then Episode 6 could mean big changes over on the FX show. Murphy already promised that "Chapter 6" will flip the season even further on its head, and split Roanoke into two clear parts. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Murphy stated:

You’ll see starting in episode 6, the show has a huge turn and the thing that you think you’re watching is not what you’re watching...It’s a hat on a hat on a hat on a hat that we’ve had to protect.

The show's co-creator also revealed that this season would be directly tied to Season 4's Freak Show, and that we would be exploring the history of the psychotic Mott family.

If we are going back in time, the return of Finn Wittrock's Y-Front-clad psycho son is unlikely, but Conroy playing a younger version of Mother Mott could be on the cards. Adding fuel to the fire, Murphy also promised that we would see the return of some previous cast members, saying:

Many, many, many that you have not seen in years that you have wanted to see.

Alongside Jessica Lange, Conroy frequently lists as one of the actors that fans hope will return to Murphy's horror anthology — and unlike Lange, Conroy has never said her departure was permanent.

'Con' you believe it?

I'm not going to lie, I am a little gutted that it isn't Myrtle Snow who will once again be rising from the grave, but Gloria Mott is a pretty solid consolation prize. Hopefully we will see the charismatic Conroy back on the show, as her absence from last season's Hotel was definitely felt. As one of the show's original actors, Having Conroy return would further cement the connection to previous seasons. We have also been told that Season 6 will again connect back to S1's Murder House, where Conroy played flirtatious maid Moira O'Hara — which is unsurprising, given the current Paranormal Activity theme of a haunted house. Whatever happens, get yourselves ready for Episode 6 — it sounds like it is going to be a goodun'. Who knows, maybe Evan Peters will have popped up by then?