“One shot makes you hot,” reads the tagline of The Beauty, FX’s new dark comedy series laced in body horror.
In what The Hollywood Reporter’s chief TV critic Daniel Feinberg calls an “occasionally provocative blend of Nip/Tuck and various American Horror Story iterations,” Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty — written and co-created by Matt Hodgson — centers on a mysterious drug that promises unimaginable physical attractiveness. Also sexually transmissible, “The Beauty” can transform its users into what society deems perfection, though not without the risk of devastating side effects. The show asks: How much are you willing to sacrifice for eternal youth?
A star-studded cast joins the ride, including Murphy regulars Evan Peters and Jeremy Pope, alongside first-time Murphy-verse additions like Ashton Kutcher, plus a slate of notable guest stars.
The first three episodes launch on Wednesday (at 9 p.m. ET on FX), followed by weekly releases across the 11-episode season, with two episodes dropping in each of the final two weeks. Since each episode brings more familiar faces into the show, The Hollywood Reporter is keeping track of all of the stars appearing in The Beauty with explainers on the characters they play.
This list will be updated weekly as new characters are revealed. Check back for spoilers!
Bella Hadid as Ruby
Image Credit: Philippe Antonello/FX Supermodel Bella Hadid plays a supermodel in the show — but with a twist. She steps off the runway and onto a vicious rampage. Though best known for modeling, Hadid told THR at the New York City premiere that she hopes to continue acting after the series. “This is a dream of mine,” she said.
Evan Peters as Cooper Madsen
Image Credit: FX Evan Peters is finally playing the good guy. The Ryan Murphy series veteran and Emmy winner plays Cooper Madsen, an FBI agent assigned to investigate Ruby’s (Hadid) incident at a fashion show in Paris. Peters also serves as an executive producer.
Rebecca Hall as Jordan Bennett
Image Credit: FX Rebecca Hall plays Cooper’s FBI agent partner Jordan Bennett, as they are try to figure out what is happening to the supermodels. The two are also in a situationship.
Jeremy Pope as Jeremy
Image Credit: FX Hollywood star Jeremy Pope returns to the Ryan Murphy–verse to play an insecure man who’s longing to find a new direction. Pope is also an executive producer.
Ashton Kutcher as The Corporation
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX Ashton Kutcher portrays the villain known as The Corporation, who has built a trillion-dollar empire through a super drug called The Beauty. The role also marks his return to acting after three years, as well as his first collaboration with Ryan Murphy.
Anthony Ramos as The Assassin
Image Credit: FX The In the Heights star plays an assassin with an eye patch hired by The Corporation to protect his trillion-dollar empire. Ramos also executive produces.
Isabella Rossellini as Franny Forst
Image Credit: Philippe Antonello/FX Isabella Rossellini takes on the role of Franny Forst, the wife of the man behind Kutcher’s The Corporation, who despises his motives and is the mother of their two sons. The character is likely a nod to Rossellini’s role in the body-horror comedy Death Becomes Her (1992), which also explores vanity, aging and the desire for youth.
