FX’s new dark comedy series, The Beauty, has captivated audiences since its January 21 premiere, weaving an intense narrative around a mysterious drug that promises physical perfection but comes at a terrifying cost. Featuring Evan Peters in a groundbreaking role, the show delves into society’s obsession with eternal youth and the sacrifices made to attain it.
Set against various global backdrops including Paris and the U.S., The Beauty explores how a sexually transmissible super-drug upends lives, leading to grotesque transformations and deadly consequences. Evan Peters, playing FBI agent Cooper Madsen, is at the heart of this urgent and chaotic story as he investigates these disturbing cases, revealing shocking twists along the way.
The Premise Behind The Beauty and Its Dangerous Allure
Created by Ryan Murphy and Matt Hodgson, The Beauty presents a provocative narrative blending horror, dark comedy, and social commentary. At its core is a revolutionary substance known simply as “The Beauty,” a drug that converts users into models of physical desirability according to cultural standards but triggers hazardous mutations. Its sexually transmissible nature compounds the threat, making the desperation to attain—and the fear of contracting—the drug palpable. The series relentlessly questions how far individuals are willing to go to maintain perpetual youth, exposing greed, vanity, and cruelty.
Daniel Feinberg, TV critic at The Hollywood Reporter, described the show as an
“occasionally provocative blend of Nip/Tuck and various American Horror Story iterations,”
underscoring its chilling tone and layered storytelling.
Star-Studded Ensemble Cast Brings Depth to the Story
The Beauty features an expansive and diverse cast of well-known actors, many of whom both enhance and complicate its intense plot through striking performances and unexpected character arcs. Below is an overview of the prominent characters and the actors who portray them, capturing the chaos stirred by the drug and its surrounding conspiracies.
Key Characters and Their Transformations in The Beauty
Bella Hadid’s Vengeful Model, Ruby
Supermodel Bella Hadid debuts as Ruby, a famous runway model who abruptly descends into violent madness after taking the drug. Her character’s arc is marked by a brutal rampage culminating in her explosive death. Despite her fashion roots, Hadid expressed a strong desire to pursue more acting roles after this series, describing the opportunity as
“This is a dream of mine,”
at the New York City premiere.
Evan Peters as FBI Agent Cooper Madsen
Ryan Murphy’s long-time collaborator and Emmy winner Evan Peters plays Cooper Madsen, an FBI agent tasked with investigating the incidents surrounding “The Beauty,” including Ruby’s downfall at a Paris fashion show. Peters also serves as an executive producer on the series. In a jaw-dropping twist in episode nine, Cooper contracts the drug and undergoes a transformation into a young boy, portrayed by Hudson Barry. Peters shared his surprise about this change:
“I was like, ‘So, what are we gonna do? Who’s gonna play [me]? What’s happening?’”
He reflected on the unexpected nature of the storyline and how it sparked his curiosity about audience reactions.
Rebecca Hall’s FBI Partner Jordan Bennett
Rebecca Hall depicts Jordan Bennett, Cooper’s partner both professionally and romantically. As the narrative unfolds, Jordan unknowingly contracts “The Beauty” and experiences a gruesome transformation, ultimately morphing into the actress Jessica Alexander. Hall revealed she was aware of her character’s limited time from the outset, likening the twist to a classic thriller moment:
“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 Quest for Renewal
Jeremy Pope returns to Murphy’s realm as Jeremy, a man struggling with self-doubt who yearns for transformation. Contracting the drug initiates his physical and existential rebirth. Pope also holds an executive producer credit on the show.
Claire Portrayed by Chanel Stewart
Chanel Stewart, known for her role in Barbie and as Miss Universe Australia, plays Claire, a carrier of the drug who transmits it to Jeremy, sparking his metamorphosis.
Ashton Kutcher as The Corporation’s Ruthless Leader
Making his first Ryan Murphy collaboration and returning to acting after a three-year hiatus, Ashton Kutcher embodies The Corporation, a shadowy villain creating a trillion-dollar empire through the distribution of “The Beauty.” Kutcher revealed his admiration for Murphy’s writing:
“He’s one of the greatest writers on the planet,”
motivating his involvement in the series.
Anthony Ramos as The Assassin Protecting The Corporation
Anthony Ramos, the In the Heights star, portrays an eye-patched assassin employed by The Corporation to safeguard its empire. Ramos, too, contributes as an executive producer.
Isabella Rossellini’s Franny Forst: The Disillusioned Matriarch
Isabella Rossellini plays Franny Forst, the wife of the wealthy man behind The Corporation, who deeply opposes her husband’s ambitions. The role nods to Rossellini’s iconic part in the body-horror comedy Death Becomes Her (1992), which also explores themes of vanity and aging.
Jessica Alexander’s Takeover as Jordan Bennett
Following Jordan’s transformation, Jessica Alexander assumes the role, reflecting the physical change inflicted by the drug.
Harper’s Descent, Played by Amelia Gray Hamlin
Making her acting debut, model Amelia Gray Hamlin plays Harper, who brings “The Beauty” into a Condé Nast office plagued by chaos. Like Ruby, Harper succumbs to a violent frenzy, killing colleague Brittany (Meghan Trainor) before her own explosive death.
Meghan Trainor’s Brittany, a Victim of the Drug’s Rage
Singer Meghan Trainor steps into acting with her role as Brittany, fatally thrown from a cafeteria window by Harper during the turmoil caused by the drug.
Ben Platt as Manny, The Transforming Vogue Staffer
Tony-winning Ben Platt plays Manny, a Vogue employee caught in the aftermath of Harper’s explosion. Exposed to “The Beauty,” Manny fights Cooper in a key episode before undergoing his own transformation into a model portrayed by Isaac Powell.
Isaac Powell’s Portrayal of Transformed Manny
Isaac Powell represents Manny post-infection, embodying the physical changes induced by the drug.
John Carroll Lynch as FBI Chief Meyer
Lynch plays Meyer, the supervisor of Cooper and Jordan, whose role anchors the FBI investigation into the drug’s spread.
Scientist Ray, Played by Rob Yang
Rob Yang portrays the scientist responsible for developing “The Beauty” and introducing it to The Corporation’s leader.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s Dual Role as Byron Forst and The Corporation
Revealed in episode five, the billionaire Byron Forst, portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, is the true identity behind The Corporation, transforming into Kutcher’s character only after taking the drug.
Peter Gallagher’s Axel Zufo Joins the Billionaires
Peter Gallagher plays Axel Zufo, a fossil fuels billionaire who becomes involved with Byron and others in taking “The Beauty.”
Billy Eichner as Crypto Mogul Waylen Lemming
The comedian and host Billy Eichner features as Waylen Lemming, a crypto billionaire who also consumes the superdrug, adding to the elite circle impacted.
Julie Halston’s Kitty Munson Meets a Grim Fate
In episode five, Julie Halston appears as Kitty Munson, another billionaire who transforms after taking “The Beauty” and is subsequently killed by Byron.
Banking Tycoon Ronan Wylde Portrayed by David Pittu
David Pittu plays Ronan Wylde, a banking billionaire who faces a fatal outcome after taking the drug, joining the string of murdered elites orchestrated by Byron.
Eddie Kaye Thomas as Lab Worker Mike
Eddie Kaye Thomas appears as Mike, a shy lab technician at Byron’s corporate headquarters who cooperates closely with Clara. By episode’s end, he succumbs to the effects of “The Beauty.”
Transformation of Mike by Joey Pollari
Joey Pollari takes over as Mike after his transformation, showing the drug’s profound physical impact.
Rev Yolanda’s Clara and Her Struggle with Identity
Rev Yolanda plays Clara, a transgender woman working at Byron’s firm, who turns to “The Beauty” after confiding her frustrations about the mismatch between her inner identity and outward appearance despite hormone therapy.
Lux Pascal Steps In as Transformed Clara
Lux Pascal, sibling of Pedro Pascal and a trans woman who publicly came out in 2021, portrays Clara post-transformation, highlighting the series’ nuanced representation of gender and identity themes.
Kelli O’Hara’s Juliana Williams Influenced by The Corporation
Kelli O’Hara features as Juliana Williams, a former editor who, alongside her FBI husband Meyer, is persuaded to take “The Beauty” when confronted by Byron at their home.
Ari Graynor as Dr. Diana Starling, The Scientific Rebel
Ari Graynor plays Dr. Diana Starling, a doctor opposing The Corporation who develops a reverse version of the drug and tests it on a young Cooper in the finale, presenting a potential countermeasure to the chaotic spread of “The Beauty.”
Cooper’s Transformation Into a Child Actor Hudson Barry
The striking moment when Cooper volunteers to take the drug to thwart Byron’s plans results in him becoming a young boy instead of an adult, portrayed by Hudson Barry. This unexpected twist adds urgency and complexity to Cooper’s mission. Evan Peters reflected on the moment with intrigue:
“I didn’t see that coming,”
and wondered about the audience’s reception.
The Forst Family’s Fate: Gunther, Tig, and Franny
Brandon Gillard and Ray Nicholson portray Gunther and Tig, the transformed sons of Byron and Franny. Tig notably injects his mother with the drug in the finale, setting off further turmoil.
Nicola Peltz Beckham joins the series in a surprise appearance as Franny Forst, replacing Isabella Rossellini’s portrayal after the finale injection. Franny is deeply opposed to “The Beauty” despite its allure, lamenting the loss of her life experiences and bodily acceptance:
“Everything that I had worked for, everything that I had earned — my scars, my stretch marks, the age I owned — taken from me,”
she confides. Her character’s story ends tragically with a suicide attempt and a state of critical condition.
The Significance of Evan Peters’ Role in The Beauty
Peters’ performance as Cooper stands out not only because he embodies a complex protagonist but also due to his unprecedented transformation into a child after contracting the drug, challenging traditional portrayals of heroism in body horror narratives. This shift enriches the series’ urgent and chaotic tone, reflecting the consequences of unrestrained ambition and societal pressure on appearance.
The Beauty urges viewers to confront the unsettling realities behind superficial perfection, weaving a tale marked by anxiety and relentless tension. With its star-studded ensemble, intense storyline, and unsettling imagery, the series continues to provoke and captivate audiences hungry for stories that push boundaries. As the season progresses, attention turns to whether the reverse drug developed by Dr. Starling will offer hope or further complications in this fraught fight against The Corporation’s influence.
