<P> American Horror Story: Hotel is the fifth season of the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story . This season focuses on addiction, the longing attachment to a particular habit or practice especially with drugs . The story takes place in Los Angeles, California during the year 2015 and focuses on the retro Downtown Los Angeles . Hotel Cortez that is haunted by gruesome murders and supernatural activity which attracts homicidal detective John Lowe who is studying the killings committed by a Biblical serial murderer who points him to Room 64 of the Cortez . He is haunted by the abduction of his son, Holden who disappeared in 2010 at an amusement park . He enlists the residents to help him find the identity of the killer but learn that they have all previously died and that they are ghosts . The hotel is owned by Elizabeth Johnson also known as The Countess who is obsessed with fashion, sex and craves human blood who she uses by her metallic, fingernail glove . Upon the recent purchase of Will Drake, she plans to marry him and then murder him before stealing his fortunes in order to regain her wealth and total happiness alongside her towhead children and her role as owner of the Cortez but comes with many challenges including her past lovers and a recent outbreak . </P> <P> Veteran cast members include Wes Bentley, Chloë Sevigny, Kathy Bates, Denis O'Hare, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Matt Bomer, and Angela Bassett, with Lady Gaga and Cheyenne Jackson making their debut . Special guest stars include Naomi Campbell . Veteran cast members with recurring appearances include Mare Winningham, Lily Rabe, Matt Ross, Finn Wittrock, Christine Estabrook, John Carroll Lynch, and Anthony Ruivivar . This is the second season that is not strictly anthological, with Christine Estabrook, and Matt Ross reprising their previous roles Marcy (Murder House), Charles Montgomery (Murder House) respectively, and Gabourey Sidibe reprising her role as Queenie from Coven . Paulson herself also reprised a previous character from Murder House (Billie Dean Howard). This is the first season not to feature mainstay Jessica Lange . This is also the first season not to feature Frances Conroy in any capacity . </P> <Ul> <Li> Kathy Bates as Iris </Li> <Li> Sarah Paulson as Sally McKenna </Li> <Li> Evan Peters as James Patrick March </Li> <Li> Wes Bentley as Det . John Lowe </Li> <Li> Matt Bomer as Donovan </Li> <Li> Chloë Sevigny as Dr. Alex Lowe </Li> <Li> Denis O'Hare as Liz Taylor </Li> <Li> Cheyenne Jackson as Will Drake </Li> <Li> Angela Bassett as Ramona Royale </Li> <Li> Lady Gaga as Elizabeth Johnson </Li> </Ul> <Li> Kathy Bates as Iris </Li>

Who plays the hotel owner in american horror story