American Horror Story season 5: Kathy Bates confirmed to return

The actress will run the hotel in the next instalment of the anthology series

Actress Kathy Bates (Getty Images)

American Horror Story: Hotel has found its proprietor.

Kathy Bates is returning to the drama to star in the upcoming fifth season as the hotel's owner, co-creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed.

The Blind Side and Midnight in Paris actress has previously appeared in the anthology series in Coven and Freak Show.

Her role as Louisiana-born serial killer Madame Delphine LaLaurie in Coven earned her an Emmy for supporting actress in a TV movie or miniseries.

Bates is one of the few past series regulars to confirm her return. Fans are yet to hear whether Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Frances Conroy, Dennis O’Hare and Lily Rabe will return for Hotel.

Kathy Bates plays the bearded lady Ethel Darling in American Horror Story: Freak Show (Fox)

Murphy has confirmed that Chloe Sevigny will be back for another season of horror.

Jessica Lange, who has appeared in the drama since it began, confirmed last month that she was leaving the show.

Bates joins a cast that includes Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, Wes Bentley, Chloe Sevigny and Cheyenne Jackson.

American Horror Story is expected to return to our screens in October.

Read more: Ryan Murphy confirms all American Horror Story season story lines are related