 | |
| Ethel Darling | |
| Continuity: | American Horror Story |
| Series: | "Freak Show" |
| Notability: | Supporting character |
| Type: | Human oddity |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race: | Ghost |
| Location: | Baltimore, Maryland Jupiter, Florida |
| Associations: | Fräulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities |
| Relatives: | Dell Toledo [1] Jimmy Darling [2] |
| Status: | Deceased |
| Died: | 1952 |
| First: | "Monsters Among Us" |
| Final: | "Curtain Call" |
| Actor: | Kathy Bates Kathy Deitch |
Ethel Darling is a fictional human oddity and a supporting character featured in the FX Network television series American Horror Story. Played by actress Kathy Bates, she appeared in the season four storyline, "Freak Show". She first appeared in the season premiere, "Monsters Among Us", and made ten appearances in the series in total.
Biography[]
Ethel Darling was a human oddity who hailed from Baltimore, Maryland. She resided in Jupiter, Florida in the early 1950s, and worked as the "Bearded Lady" at Fräulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities, which was owned and operated by entertainer Elsa Mars. Ethel once had an affair with carnival strongman Dell Toledo, which produced a son, Jimmy Darling. Jimmy was born a human oddity himself and had deformed hands that resembled lobster claws. Ethel traveled with Elsa's show for fourteen years before the troupe settled about the Jupiter area. By this point, she had become Elsa's confidante, and was the second in command of the carnival's "freaks".
Years of a hard life, mixed with heavy drinking began to take its toll on Ethel. She was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and was now living on borrowed time. When Dell Toledo suddenly reappeared at the show, Ethel warned him against telling Jimmy that he was his father.
Affairs at Fräulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities took a sudden and darkly twisted turn, resulting in the deaths of several of their troupe members including Meep and Ma Petite. This led to a falling out between Elsa and Ethel, who had resumed drinking, despite years of sobriety. Ethel accused her employer of conspiring to murder her own people. In a drunken haze, she waved a gun at Elsa, firing a shot into her leg. She was shocked to discover that Elsa had wooden prosthetic limbs. Ethel continued to wave her gun at Elsa in a threatening manner until Elsa decided to take matters into her own hands. She hurled a knife at Ethel's head, killing her best friend of fourteen years. [3]
Ethel Darling's spirit became part of the spectral cadre that accompanied Edward Mordrake. She reunited with Elsa when Mordrake took her life at her own urging in 1960. [4]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Ethel Darling was created by series showrunners and writers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
- This is the second character on American Horror Story portrayed by Kathy Bates. She previously played Madame Delphine LaLaurie in the season three storyline "Coven". She will go on to play Iris in season five's "Hotel", as well as the dual roles of Thomasin White and Agnes Mary Winstead in season six's "Roanoke". For the season eight storyline, "Apocalypse", Kathy Bates will play Miriam Mead.
- Kathy Bates' portrayal of Ethel Darling earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
Related categories[]
See also[]
External Links[]
Appearances[]
"Freak Show"
References[]
- ↑ Ex-husband, deceased.
- ↑ Son with Dell. Survivor of the 1952 massacre. Has possibly since passed away from natural causes.
- ↑ American Horror Story: Blood Bath
- ↑ American Horror Story: Curtain Call