3 American Horror Story: Roanoke Characters Inspired by Real People

Updated on Nov 16, 2016 at 6:50 PM

While American Horror Story is a fictional series, each season tends to have at least a few roots in reality. Real people inspired the residents of Freak Show, noted murders of the past turned up on Coven and Hotel, and season six is partly based on a mysterious historical event. Now that Roanoke is about to conclude, let's take a look at all the true stories behind its characters.

Miranda and Bridget Jane

Just like the nurses in the first season of AHS, the nurses in Roanoke are also based on real people. Miranda and Bridget Jane are inspired by nurses Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham, lovers who murdered at least two (possibly up to eight) elderly people in the '80s. They're known as the "Lethal Lovers."

Scáthach

OK, so this is less of a true story and more of a myth. FX confirmed that Lady Gaga's character is named Scáthach. This is a Celtic word for "The Shadowy One," and according to Encylopedia Britannica, Scáthach is a female warrior, one that is known for teaching other warriors. She was especially adept at fighting underwater and pole-vaulting, and she invented a special barbed harpoon. Sounds like we have a lot to look forward to.

Thomasin White

Season six notably features the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, a 16th-century colony that vanished from their North Carolina settlement while their leader, John White, was overseas. Obviously, AHS takes some liberties (Pig-Man, the Butcher, whatever Lady Gaga is, etc.), but seeds of a true story are there. According to Encyclopedia Virginia, White was married to a woman named Thomasine. The spelling is different and I'm assuming the real woman didn't murder her whole colony, but she did exist.