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Ryan Murphys next small screen project stars two of todays greatest actresses as two of Hollywoods most enduring stars.

So I kind of understood and related to that.

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Robert Trachtenberg for EW

Lange, however, calls Crawford her polar opposite.

She lived with that always, says Lange.

That great fear of poverty.

She used sexuality as comfort, as a bargaining tool, as punishment.

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The witch hazel was my shout-out toMommie Dearest, says Murphy.

Jessica Lange has never seenMommie Dearest.Shes like, What the f am I doing?

And Im like, Im telling you, Joan Crawford did this!

I wasnt interested in just doing this broad, campy [show], says Murphy.

I was interested in the idea of sexism, ageism, misogyny.