Mat Fraser, who plays Paul the Illustrated Seal on FX's American Horror Story: Freak Show, recently discussed the casting of "freaks" to play characters on the show and why it is "profound."

Fraser, who has malformed arms in his real life as well, recently spoke with The Guardian about how American Horror Story gives roles to disabled and different looking people.

"It's profound," he said. "Giving storylines like that to a deformed person is radical. We're the first disabled people on US TV, but this is a show about freaks, so they see me and think 'good casting'. A world where if even your teeth are wrong you don't get gigs? It's a tough nut to crack."

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Fraser's Paul has actually been one of the more developed of the "freak" performers and he is often shown bedding various women. His character is also lucky enough to have survived into the final arc of the season, which is an accomplishment in a show that frequently kills off major characters.

The actor does not entirely know what he is going to do next when American Horror Story: Freak Show is over, though he is confident enough to rule certain things out after this experience.

"There are some things I won't do any more. I'm trying to obey the rules with the arched eyebrow of possibility and not the furrowed brow of cynical negative assumption," he said. "But you know what? Maybe some rules don't apply to me. They're rules of thumb. And you know what I haven't got? Thumbs."

American Horror Story: Freak Show returns on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX.

Watch the promo for the next episode of American Horror Story below:

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American Horror Story, Television, Fx