Ryan Murphy’s latest FX series, The Beauty, premiered on January 21, delivering a dark comedy laced with body horror that explores society’s obsession with physical perfection. The show follows a mysterious drug called “The Beauty” that grants users stunning attractiveness but carries severe, sometimes deadly side effects, drawing viewers into a chilling question: how far would people go to maintain eternal youth? Evan Peters, a longtime Ryan Murphy collaborator, plays a pivotal role in this intense narrative.
Premise and Theme of The Beauty
The Beauty centers on a powerful, sexually transmitted drug that transforms people into society’s ideal image of beauty, but not without horrifying consequences. The series delves into the dark side of vanity and the desperation for youthfulness, blending the visceral effects of body horror with satirical social commentary. Daniel Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter’s chief TV critic, describes it as an
“occasionally provocative blend of Nip/Tuck and various American Horror Story iterations.”
This layered storytelling creates a gripping, often disturbing experience that asks viewers to consider the cost of striving for perfection.
Star-Studded Cast and Character Highlights
The show features an impressive ensemble, including Ryan Murphy regulars and fresh faces alike, with notable guest appearances. Each character’s journey reflects different facets of the drug’s impact, creating a complex tapestry of transformation, power struggles, and personal downfall.
Bella Hadid’s Fierce Role as Ruby
Supermodel Bella Hadid makes a striking acting debut as Ruby, a fellow supermodel who succumbs to the effects of “The Beauty” during a fashion show in Paris. She quickly spirals into violence, attacking colleagues before exploding in a disturbing climax. Hadid shared at the New York City premiere,
“This is a dream of mine,”
expressing her enthusiasm for future acting opportunities beyond modeling.
Evan Peters Portrays Cooper Madsen, the Reluctant Hero
Evan Peters takes on the role of Cooper Madsen, an FBI agent tasked with investigating the chaos unleashed by Ruby’s transformation. Unlike many of his past roles, Peters embodies the “good guy” in this series, providing a grounded perspective amid the chaos. Serving also as an executive producer, Peters delivers a standout performance, especially in episode nine, where his character undergoes a stunning transformation into a young boy after contracting “The Beauty.” Reflecting on the unexpected direction of his role, Peters said,
I was like, “So, what are we gonna do? Who’s gonna play [me]? What’s happening?
He was initially surprised but welcomed the challenge, curious about the audience’s reaction.
Rebecca Hall as Jordan Bennett and the Shocking Twist
Rebecca Hall plays Jordan Bennett, Cooper’s FBI partner and romantic interest, who becomes an unexpected victim of the drug. After unknowingly contracting “The Beauty,” she transforms grotesquely and her role is taken over by Jessica Alexander. Hall acknowledged the deliberate twist, saying,
I was told I was going to be a very deliberate bait and switch, sort of like a Janet Leigh in Psycho situation that there would be all this expectation I would be there for the whole thing and then — whoop — gone!
Jeremy Pope’s Character Journey and Transformation
Jeremy Pope appears as a vulnerable man searching for purpose, whose encounter with the drug propels a dramatic metamorphosis. Like Peters, he is an executive producer on the series. Pope’s character “Jeremy” displays the drug’s influence by evolving into a new self, illustrating its unpredictable nature and profound personal effects.
Chanel Stewart as Catalyst Claire
Chanel Stewart, known for her role in Barbie and as Miss Universe Australia, plays Claire, who carries the infection and transmits it to Jeremy. Her character acts as a conduit, intensifying the drug’s spread within the narrative. Stewart’s role is pivotal in demonstrating the contagious and destructive power of “The Beauty.”
Ashton Kutcher’s Menacing Turn as The Corporation
Ashton Kutcher returns to acting after a three-year hiatus to portray The Corporation, the ruthless villain who built a trillion-dollar empire exploiting “The Beauty.” This marks Kutcher’s first collaboration with Ryan Murphy, whom he described as
“one of the greatest writers on the planet.”
The character embodies the cold, capitalistic drive behind the drug’s dissemination, controlling its reach and impact.
Anthony Ramos as The Enigmatic Assassin
Anthony Ramos, known for his work in In the Heights, plays a mysterious eye-patched assassin hired by The Corporation to protect its vast interests. Ramos also contributes as an executive producer, adding depth to both the character and the production. His role highlights the violent enforcement mechanisms employed to maintain control over the drug and its profits.
Isabella Rossellini’s Role as Franny Forst
Isabella Rossellini portrays Franny Forst, wife to the man behind The Corporation, who deeply resents his ruthless ambitions. She is the mother of their two sons and symbolizes resistance to the drug’s destructive influence. Rossellini’s casting may nod to her iconic role in the 1992 body-horror film Death Becomes Her, which similarly explores themes of vanity and the quest for immortality.
Jessica Alexander and the Continuation of Jordan Bennett
After Rebecca Hall’s transformation, Jessica Alexander takes over the role of Jordan Bennett, embodying the character post-transmission of “The Beauty.” This change emphasizes the unsettling physical and psychological effects of the drug that redefine identities within the series.
New Faces: Amelia Gray Hamlin and Meghan Trainor
Model Amelia Gray Hamlin debuts as Harper, a character who enters the Condé Nast office feverish from taking “The Beauty.” Her violent rampage parallels Ruby’s, culminating in a gruesome attack on colleague Brittany, played by singer Meghan Trainor, who also makes her first acting appearance. Brittany’s scene ends tragically when Harper throws her out of a cafeteria window, heightening the series’ intensity.
Ben Platt and Isaac Powell as Successive Versions of Manny
Ben Platt, notable for Dear Evan Hansen, portrays Manny, a Vogue employee caught in the chaos during Harper’s explosive moment. In episode four, Manny battles Cooper before undergoing a transformation into a model, played by Isaac Powell, highlighting the rapid and surreal transformations the drug triggers within users.
Leadership Roles: John Carroll Lynch and Rob Yang
John Carroll Lynch takes on the role of Meyer, chief of the FBI agents Cooper and Jordan, providing a commanding presence amidst investigations. Rob Yang plays Ray, the scientist responsible for developing the superdrug and introducing it to The Corporation, representing the scientific force behind the drug’s deadly allure.
Vincent D’Onofrio Revealed as The Corporation’s True Identity
Mid-season, it is unveiled that The Corporation is actually Byron Forst, played by Vincent D’Onofrio. Byron is a billionaire who only assumes the public persona of Kutcher’s character after taking “The Beauty,” adding layers of deception and power dynamics to the narrative.
Additional Billionaires and Their Fates
Actors Peter Gallagher, Billy Eichner, Julie Halston, and David Pittu portray a group of billionaires entwined in the web of “The Beauty.” Gallagher’s character, Axel Zufo, is a fossil fuels magnate, while Eichner’s Waylen Lemming is a crypto billionaire. Halston plays Kitty Munson, who dies following a transformation, and Pittu appears as Ronan Wylde, a banking billionaire who is murdered along with the others at Byron’s hands. Their inclusion underscores the series’ critique of wealth, power, and the lengths elites will go for youth.
Supporting Characters and Their Transformations
Eddie Kaye Thomas and Joey Pollari portray Mike, a lab worker at Byron’s headquarters who undergoes a dramatic transformation after taking the drug. Rev Yolanda’s Clara, a trans woman grappling with gender dysphoria exacerbated by the drug, is later played by Lux Pascal following transformation, bringing representation and complexity to the story’s portrayal of identity.
Juliana Williams and the Moral Ambiguity in the Elite
Kelli O’Hara, known for her Tony-winning performances, plays Juliana Williams, a former editor and wife of Meyer. Convincing both to take “The Beauty,” her presence reflects the coercive power of the drug even within the highest social circles, and the moral compromises often hidden behind privileged facades.
Opposition Through Science: Ari Graynor’s Dr. Diana Starling
Dr. Diana Starling, played by Ari Graynor, resists The Corporation’s grip by developing a reverse drug intended to counteract the effects of “The Beauty.” Tested on a young Cooper in the finale, this introduces a note of hope and scientific rebellion against the pervasive control of the drug empire.
The Shocking Youth Transformation of Cooper Madsen
In one of the series’ most startling turns, Cooper volunteers to contract “The Beauty” deliberately to infiltrate Byron’s corporation. Instead of becoming an unrecognizable adult as expected, he transforms into a child. Peters remarked on the surprise, reflecting,
I didn’t see that coming,
and expressed eagerness to see how viewers respond to this unexpected twist.
The Forst Family Dynamics Post-Transformation
Brandon Gillard and Ray Nicholson play Gunther and Tig, sons of Byron and Franny Forst, both altered by the drug. The finale reveals Tig forcibly injecting his mother Franny, played earlier in the season by Isabella Rossellini and later by Nicola Peltz Beckham in a surprise appearance. Peltz Beckham’s Franny, opposed to the drug’s ethos, delivers an emotional confession:
Everything that I had worked for, everything that I had earned — my scars, my stretch marks, the age I owned — taken from me,
before attempting suicide and being placed on life support. This storyline deepens the portrayal of internal family conflict and the devastating cost of vanity and control.
The Current Availability and Cultural Reception
All 11 episodes of The Beauty are currently streaming on Hulu, with weekly releases following the initial premiere. The series has garnered attention for its provocative exploration of societal vanity, supported by extensive coverage and interviews with key cast members like Peters, Kutcher, and Pope by The Hollywood Reporter. Its blend of dark humor, horror, and social critique positions it as a distinctive addition to Ryan Murphy’s portfolio.
