The FX show, adapted by Murphy and longtime collaborator Matt Hodgson from the comic book, explores the extremes people will go to achieve perfection — with a star-studded cast.
Ashton Kutcher, Evan Peters and Bella Hadid in ‘The Beauty.’
Phillippe Antonello/FX (3)
[This story contains major spoilers from The Beauty.]
“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.
First premiering with a three episode launch on Wednesday, Jan. 21 (at 9 p.m. ET on FX), the remaining episodes roll out weekly across the 11-episode season, with two episodes released 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 originally posted Jan. 21 and will be updated weekly as new characters are revealed. Check back for spoilers!
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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, before she later explodes and dies. 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.
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Evan Peters as Cooper Madsen
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/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.
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Rebecca Hall as Jordan Bennett
Image Credit: FX Rebecca Hall plays Cooper’s FBI agent partner Jordan Bennett, as they try to figure out what is happening to the supermodels. The two are also in a situationship. In episode two, Jordan unknowingly contracts “The Beauty” and undergoes a gory transformation, turning into actress Jessica Alexander.
Hall told THR she knew her character’s shocking twist from the start. “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!” she said.
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Jeremy Pope as Jeremy
Image Credit: FX Hollywood star Jeremy Pope returns to the Ryan Murphy–verse to play an insecure man longing to find a new direction. In the first episode, his character transforms into a new version of himself after contracting “The Beauty.” Pope also serves as an executive producer.
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Chanel Stewart as Claire
Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images The Barbie actress and Miss Universe Australia winner appears as Claire, who carries “The Beauty” and passes it to Jeremy, leading to his transformation into Pope.
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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 “The Beauty” super drug. The role also marks his return to acting after three years, as well as his first collaboration with Ryan Murphy.
Kutcher told THR he was drawn to the project after having an intriguing conversation with Murphy, who wrote his role in the series with the actor in mind. “He’s one of the greatest writers on the planet,” Kutcher said.
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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.
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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.
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Jessica Alexander as Jordan (Part 2)
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX Jessica Alexander takes over the role of Jordan from Rebecca Hall after Hall unknowingly contracts “The Beauty” and transforms into the actress.
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Amelia Gray Hamlin as Harper
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/2026GG/Penske Media/Getty Images Model Amelia Gray Hamlin is making her acting debut in the FX series. Her character, Harper, enters the Condé Nast office with a fever after taking “The Beauty” and reacts similarly to Ruby (Hadid), going on a violent spree and attacking her colleagues — killing Brittany (Meghan Trainor). Harper ultimately explodes and dies.
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Meghan Trainor as Brittany
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images Also making her acting debut is “All About That Bass” singer as Brittany, who is killed when Harper (Hamlin) hurls her out of a Condé Nast cafeteria window amid an explosive outburst.
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Ben Platt as Manny
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX The Dear Evan Hansen star and Tony winner appears as Vogue staffer Manny, who’s having lunch in the Condé Nast cafeteria with Brittany (Trainor) when their colleague Harper (Hamlin) explodes — exposing them to “The Beauty.” In episode four, Platt has a fight sequence with Cooper (Peters) and transforms into a model played by Isaac Powell.
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Isaac Powell as Manny (Part 2)
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Isaac Powell portrays Manny after he transforms in episode four, “Beautiful Chimp Face,” from being infected by “The Beauty.”
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John Carroll Lynch as Meyer
Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images John Carroll Lynch plays FBI chief and boss of agents Cooper and Jordan, Meyer.
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Rob Yang as Ray
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX Rob Yang plays Ray, the scientist behind the superdrug, who is also responsible for introducing it to Kutcher’s character.
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Vincent D’Onofrio as Byron Forst
Image Credit: FX Episode five revealed that Kutcher’s “The Corporation” is actually Byron Forst, a billionaire played by Vincent D’Onofrio, who only transforms into Kutcher after taking “The Beauty.”
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Peter Gallagher as Axel Zufo
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images The O.C. star portrays a fossil fuels billionaire, Axel Zufo, who ends up taking “The Beauty” with Byron and a group of billionaires.
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Billy Eichner as Waylen Lemming
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images The Billy on the Street host plays Waylen Lemming, a crypto billionaire who takes the superdrug.
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Julie Halston as Kitty Munson
Image Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images Sex and the City actress Julie Halston appears as another billionaire, Kitty Munson, in episode five, who transforms from taking the superdrug and is then killed by Byron.
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David Pittu as Ronan Wylde
Image Credit: Jason Mendez/Getty Images David Pittu plays banking billionaire Ronan Wylde, who also takes “The Beauty” and is murdered among the rest of the billionaires by Bryon.
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Eddie Kaye Thomas as Mike
Image Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images The American Pie star plays Mike, a timid lab worker at Byron’s corporate headquarters in episode six, “Beautiful Patient Zero,” who works closely with Rev Yolanda’s Clara (listed below). Mike transforms from taking “The Beauty” at the end of the episode.
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Joey Pollari as Mike (Part 2)
Image Credit: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images Monster alum Joey Pollari plays Mike after his transformation from taking “The Beauty.”
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Rev Yolanda as Clara
Image Credit: FX Clara (Rev Yolanda) is a trans woman who works at Byron’s headquarters and ends up taking “The Beauty” after confiding in co-worker Mike about how frustrating it is for her that her outside isn’t matching her inside and she’s been taking hormones.
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Lux Pascal as Clara (Part 2)
Image Credit: FX Actress and sister of Pedro Pascal, Lux Pascal, portrays Clara post “The Beauty.” Lux is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and came out as a trans woman in 2021.
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Kelli O’Hara as Juliana Williams
Image Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX Tony winner and The Gilded Age actress appears in episode seven, “Beautiful Living Rooms” as Juliana Williams, a former editor for Elle magazine and wife to FBI Agent, Meyer (John Carroll Lynch), who are convinced to take “The Beauty” when Byron shows up at their home.
