Seeing Paul Anthony Kelly grace the pages of a magazine is always a welcome surprise, but Kelly clearly decided that simply posing wasn’t enough this time. The American Horror Story actor has popped his leg in a pair of thigh-high leather boots for the latest issue of VMAN, and frankly, we’re having a difficult time looking anywhere else.
The brunette actor appears in the upcoming issue in suitably sultry leather looks, complete with plenty of exposed chest, and an outfit that seems to have forgotten the buttons entirely. But while we’re certainly not complaining about a little chest hair, it’s those seriously kinky boots that steal the show.
And Kelly wears them with the kind of confidence that makes you wonder whether he has been secretly preparing for this moment his entire life.
From Modeling to Making His Mark
Kelly may feel like a relatively fresh face to many viewers, but he isn’t exactly new to the spotlight. Before making waves onscreen, he established himself as a model, a career that gave him plenty of experience working a camera and understanding exactly how to command a photograph.
That experience is certainly evident in his latest VMAN appearance. Whether he’s dressed in leather, channeling old-school Hollywood glamour, or stepping into a character, Kelly seems remarkably comfortable in front of the lens.
But acting is where he wants to take things next.
As he explained in his VMAN interview, modeling came with the frustration of not always being taken seriously. Moving into acting has given him the freedom to pursue work that feels more personally meaningful.
It’s a pretty relatable sentiment, especially for anyone who has ever felt boxed into the version of themselves other people expected them to be.
READ: Kelly Era Incoming: Who Is the Man Playing JFK Jr. for Ryan Murphy?
Ryan Murphy Saw Something
Kelly’s major breakthrough came with Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, where he played JFK Jr., a role that immediately made people do a double take thanks to his uncanny resemblance to the former president’s son.
Now he’s heading back into the Ryan Murphy universe for the 13th season of American Horror Story, this time appearing as a blonde. It’s his second collaboration with Murphy, and Kelly clearly sees the opportunity as something special.
He credits Murphy with recognizing an acting ability in him that others had overlooked and encouraging him to explore it.
That’s quite the endorsement from one of television’s most prolific creators.
And judging by Kelly’s rapidly expanding résumé, Murphy wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Next Stop: The Housemaid’s Secret
As if American Horror Story weren’t enough, Kelly is also joining The Housemaid’s Secret, appearing as Douglas alongside Sydney Sweeney.
So, yes, the man in the thigh-high boots is busy.
Between television, film, fashion and a growing reputation as an actor to watch, Kelly seems to be making a rather convincing case for why he belongs on our screens as much as he belongs on magazine covers.
The VMAN issue arrives on newsstands August 28, giving fans another chance to appreciate Kelly’s transformation from model to actor.
And if he keeps turning up in leather thigh-highs looking that confident, we’re certainly not going to be the ones asking him to tone it down.