The Beauty Cast & Character Guide: Stars of Ryan Murphy’s Body Horror Series

Ryan Murphy’s latest show, The Beauty, is now streaming on FX, Hulu, and Disney+. Early reviews are positive, and some viewers have compared it to the film The Substance. The series follows the fallout from a powerful new drug intended to enhance physical attractiveness, and naturally features a cast of well-known, beautiful actors.

This isn’t a review of the show’s cast, but it’s worth noting that The Beauty features some truly exceptional acting, with several well-known actors delivering some of their strongest work in years. And, after just three episodes, some of the show’s biggest names haven’t even appeared yet.

The show features disturbing physical transformations that completely change how some characters look. As a result, one of the main actresses is leaving, and it’s unclear if she’ll return. Despite this, The Beauty’s intense and frightening body horror is expected to have a lasting impact on television.

The Beauty Cast & Character Guide

Actor Character
Evan Peters Cooper Madsen
Anthony Ramos Antonio / the Assassin Image via Disney+
Jeremy Pope Jeremy
Rebecca Hall Jordan Bennett
Ashton Kutcher Byron Forst / the Corporation
Isabella Rossellini Franny Forst
Chanel Stewart Claire
Bella Hadid Ruby
Jaquel Spivey Jeremy
Jessica Alexander Jordan Bennett
Rob Yang Geneticist
John Carroll Lynch Meyer
Meghan Trainor Brittany

Evan Peters As Cooper Madsen

Date Of Birth: January 20, 1987

  • Active Since: 2004

Evan Peters is a well-known actor who frequently works with Ryan Murphy, most famously for his roles in the anthology series American Horror Story. However, fans of superheroes and science fiction may recognize him from his film work, including his portrayal of Peter Maximoff in X-Men and his upcoming role as Julian Dillinger in the 2025 film Tron: Ares.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
Invasion Jesse Varon
American Horror Story Tate Langdon, Kit Walker, Kyle Spencer, Jimmy Darling, James Patrick March, Kai Anderson / Andy Warhol / Marshall Applewhite / David Koresh / Jim Jones / Jesus / Charles Manson, Mr. Gallant / James Patrick March / Tate Langdon / Jeff Pfister, Austin Sommers
Dark Phoenix Peter Maximoff / Quicksilver
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Jeffrey Dahmer
Tron: Ares Julian Dillinger

Cooper Madsen, the main character in The Beauty, is an FBI agent investigating a series of violent deaths connected to a dangerous new drug. His background as a Navy SEAL makes him well-equipped to handle the increasingly chaotic case, especially as the show’s first episodes unfold.

Anthony Ramos As Antonio / The Assassin

Date Of Birth: November 1, 1991

Active Since: 2015

Anthony Ramos leads the cast of Twisters and any future films in the series. He first gained widespread recognition playing Mars Blackmon in Spike Lee’s movie She’s Gotta Have It, based on Lee’s original comedy. Ramos also provided the voice for Mr. Piranha in the animated film The Bad Guys, and starred as the main character in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
She’s Gotta Have It Mars Blackmon
Monsters and Men Manny Ortega
The Bad Guys Mr. Piranha
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Noah Diaz
Twisters Javi

Antonio is quickly becoming the most compelling character in The Beauty. He’s a hired assassin working for the company that makes the show’s central drug, and he’s been affected by the drug’s side effects for a long time. Actor Ramos seems to be really enjoying his role as this dangerous and sinister killer, often sporting a chilling grin.

Jeremy Pope As Jeremy

Date Of Birth: July 9, 1992

Active Since: 2018

Jeremy Pope’s latest film, The Beauty, marks a significant role in his growing acting career, which spans eight years. Before this, the Broadway performer and singer gained recognition for his work in the series Hollywood and for playing Jackie Wilson in the movie One Night in Miami.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
The Ranger Jerk
Hollywood Archie Coleman
One Night in Miami Jackie Wilson
Pose Christopher
The Inspection Ellis French

Though Pope appears briefly in the trailer for The Beauty, he’s expected to be a central character in the series. He plays Jeremy, an everyday man who becomes involved with the dangerous, experimental beauty drug at the heart of the story. Through Jeremy’s eyes, we experience this strange and unsettling world of extreme cosmetic enhancement, initially believing he’s simply found a lucrative opportunity as a test subject.

Rebecca Hall As Jordan Bennett

Date Of Birth: May 3, 1982

Active Since: 1992

Rebecca Hall is a British actress from a family with a strong history in acting. She first gained recognition in the late 2000s with roles in films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Frost/Nixon. Since then, she’s appeared in popular projects including the thriller The Town, the sci-fi series Tales from the Loop on Prime Video, and the Godzilla x Kong films directed by Adam Wingard.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
Vicky Cristina Barcelona Vicky
The Town Claire Keesey
Parade’s End Sylvia Tietjens
Tales from the Loop Loretta
Godzilla vs. Kong Godzilla vs. Kong

Jordan Bennett is an FBI agent who works with Cooper Madsen on the show’s central investigation. Later in the series, Jordan becomes infected with the superdrug known as ‘The Beauty,’ causing a physical transformation and effectively changing the character’s role.

Ashton Kutcher As Byron Forst / The Corporation

Date Of Birth: February 7, 1978

  • Active Since: 1998

Ashton Kutcher, the lead actor in The Beauty, first became famous for his comedic work. He starred in the sitcom That ‘70s Show, the comedy film Dude, Where’s My Car?, and created the MTV show Punk’d, where he played pranks on people. Starting in the mid-2000s, he began taking on more serious roles in movies, and also famously replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
That ’70s Show Michael Kelso
Dude, Where’s My Car? Jesse Montgomery III
Punk’d Himself
The Butterfly Effect Evan Treborn
Two and a Half Men Walden Schmidt

Ashton Kutcher’s funny portrayal of Byron Forst—a spoiled and ruthless businessman—is a standout element in Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 body horror film, The Beauty and the Substance. Forst is the financial backer and promoter of a risky new superdrug, and he doesn’t care about its potential dangers.

Isabella Rossellini As Franny Forst

Date Of Birth: June 18, 1952

Active Since: 1976

Isabella Rossellini, a celebrated actress and Hollywood icon, recently boosted the popularity of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory‘s third season with her compelling supporting role. Known for her scene-stealing performances, she’s captivated audiences for years, particularly in the acclaimed film Blue Velvet directed by David Lynch.

Notable TV Shows & Movies

Movie/TV Show Role
Blue Velvet Dorothy Vallens
Wild at Heart Isabella Rossellini
Death Becomes Her Lisle von Rhuman
Big Night Gabriella
Conclave Sister Agnes

Franny Forst is Byron’s former wife, and she deeply resents him, especially his genetic research. The choice of Isabella Rossellini to play her is brilliant, as it’s a nod to her performance in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her.

The Beauty Supporting Cast & Characters

Chanel Stewart plays Claire, the first person to show the harmful effects of the drug and unknowingly spread its dangerous mutation.

Bella Hadid as Ruby — A supermodel in her prime.

Jaquel Spivey as Jeremy — The version of Jeremy Pope’s character before his transformation.

Jessica Alexander plays Jordan Bennett, the character Rebecca Hall’s character becomes after changing.

Rob Yang as a geneticist — The key scientist behind Byron Forst’s biological superdrug.

John Carroll Lynch as Meyer — The FBI chief to whom Cooper and Jordan report.

Okay, so Meghan Trainor plays Brittany, and she’s basically the PR person for this model who gets mixed up with ‘The Beauty’ – this drug that’s supposed to make you look amazing. She’s the corporate type trying to manage everything, which I’m guessing gets messy fast!

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2026-01-23 22:37