JUST JARED’s APRIL COVER STAR Taissa Farmiga has quickly become a unique, memorable presence on both the big and small screens. She has an endlessly-watchable quality that you can’t get enough of - whether it’s on film in Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring or in real life on the set of a photo shoot. Even if you can't define her oddball charisma, you know it when you see it.

“It’s like watching a peony explode, witnessing Taissa become a woman,” big sis Vera gushes. “She is mid-bloom right now and she is outrageously beautiful. Her cheekiness is in full swell, it’s lush and mischievous. I love laughing with her, always will. I love watching her prance about her life like some mythical unicorn.”

The critically-acclaimed series has repeatedly dominated the Emmy Awards, earning 54 nominations over its first three seasons. And in just four short years, Taissa has become one of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses.

Taissa got her start in film at the age of 15 when her older sister Vera Farmiga cast her in 2011’s Higher Ground. But it was Ryan Murphy who put Taissa on the map by casting her as Violet Harmon in the first season of his hit series American Horror Story. Playing opposite Jessica Lange and Evan Peters , Taissa demonstrated a chilling depth with her acting prowess, earning her another key role on the third season of the show.

While Taissa doesn’t know if she will return for American Horror Story’s upcoming fifth season, she has no shortage of projects on her plate. She recently premiered two buzzy new movies - The Final Girls and 6 Years - at Austin’s SXSW Film Festival. She’s been shooting non-stop for the ABC drama pilot L.A. Crime with Erika Christensen. And Taissa has two other films in the can - Warren Beatty’s Howard Hughes-based romantic drama and a western called In a Valley of Violence with Ethan Hawke and John Travolta.

“The fact that she’s flourishing in her career is just a known certainty,” Vera adds. “She’s always had an attack approach of thriving, when kids her age were just trying to survive, all to do with her innate compassion and passion and fearlessness. One glance into her luminous hazel eyes, and you know her goodness, her honesty, her kindness. I am so proud and in awe of my lil’ sister, but not so much that I still won’t poke her in the ribs with straws.” ■

Just Jared: Can fans expect to see you in future seasons of American Horror Story?

Taissa Farmiga: Well, season four just ended. So I'm hoping the fans will be able see me in the next season of American Horror Story, but we'll see. No promises.

JJ: What's your favorite scene that you've shot on the show?

TF: My favorite scene that I've shot, the most recent one, was on Coven, when I got to be impaled onto the wall. I got to sit there for like an hour on this awesome rig and just be leaning on the wall. And it was pretty fun, blood, guts, it was great.

JJ: Do you have a favorite prop from set?

TF: My favorite prop from American Horror Story is probably the witch hat. It just fits me, and I love it. I love tipping it down so you can't see me, but I can flirt with the eyes. It's my favorite prop.