Paul Anthony Kelly recalls racing against time to learn tango with Jessica Lange

Paul Anthony Kelly reveals how he and Jessica Lange learned the tango in just one hour for 'American Horror Story'

Paul Anthony Kelly has revealed that he had only about an hour to learn the tango with Jessica Lange before filming their scene for American Horror Story season 13.

The actor, who portrays the Devil opposite Lange's Constance Langdon, told PEOPLE that neither performer had previous experience with the dance, making the preparation particularly challenging.

“The tango-dancing, I think, was probably the most challenging, ’cause neither of us knew how to tango yet,” Kelly said in an interview ahead of the season 13 finale on October 29. He added that they had approximately an hour to learn the choreography before filming began.

The scene features Kelly's character dancing with Lange's Constance in an elaborate, candlelit room. Wearing a striking red gown, Constance discusses feeling trapped in the house before suggesting she could become the Devil's partner. However, the exchange takes an unexpected turn when he reveals that he is her father before disappearing.

Despite the limited preparation time, Kelly recalled the tango sequence as an enjoyable experience. He said the pair shared several laughs while filming whenever they made mistakes.

“That was a great experience, learning to tango with Jessica Lange,” he said, adding that he had no previous dance experience. “I have two left feet,” he joked.

Kelly also described working with Lange, Sarah Paulson, John Waters and Billie Lourd as a privilege. He praised the longtime American Horror Story cast members for their performances and the opportunity to observe how they brought their established characters to life.

The actor also discussed creating his version of the Devil, explaining that the fictional role gave him more creative freedom than portraying John F. Kennedy Jr. in Ryan Murphy's Love Story.

He envisioned the Devil as a sophisticated, suave and classic Hollywood-inspired character.

American Horror Story season 13 is now streaming on Hulu.