Jeremy Pope Stars in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Beauty,’ Exploring Perfection’s Dark Side

Ryan Murphy’s latest episodic creation, ‘The Beauty,’ premiered its first three episodes on FX and Hulu on January 21, 2026, plunging viewers into a dark, globe-trotting crime thriller that interrogates the perilous pursuit of perfection. Featuring a star-studded cast including Jeremy Pope, Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Anthony Ramos, and Ashton Kutcher, the series explores the hidden, privileged, and often terrifying realms of vanity, with Pope playing a central character driven to extreme measures by his dissatisfaction with his own appearance. The show, which has been described as a blend of body horror and self-deprecating camp, challenges audiences to consider just how far one would go to achieve an idealized self, and the horrifying consequences that might ensue.

“The Beauty”: A Descent into Vanity and Body Horror

Created and written by Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, ‘The Beauty’ is based on the Image comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. It unfolds against a backdrop where the glamor machine turns lethal, as international supermodels begin to overheat and explode into “gorgeously gory bits,” with blood spilling from runways to city streets. This gruesome phenomenon is traced back to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a supposed “miracle drug” called “The Beauty.”

FBI Agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are assigned to investigate this escalating epidemic, quickly uncovering a sinister lab-created pathogen. As contact tracing efforts fail and the virus spreads, Jeremy (played by Jeremy Pope), a character deeply unhappy with his appearance, finds himself entangled in the unfolding cover-up. Ashton Kutcher portrays “The Corporation,” a tech billionaire and the engineer behind the dangerous drug, while Anthony Ramos takes on the role of “The Assassin,” a killer hired by Kutcher’s character. The series is a “festival of monstrous madness filled with the worst people in the world,” according to *Riot-US*, combining themes reminiscent of Murphy’s ‘Nip/Tuck’ with the social horror stylings of ‘American Horror Story.’

Jeremy Pope on Character, Self-Care, and Intentionality

Jeremy Pope’s character, also named Jeremy, is central to the show’s exploration of extreme beauty standards. Pope describes his character as someone “unhappy with his appearance and willing to do and pay for extreme transformations in order to be admired.” This role resonates with Pope’s personal reflections on the fine line between self-care and obsessive pursuits of perfection. Drawing from his own experiences, Pope shared with *Forbes* his perspective, influenced by his father, a professional bodybuilder.

“I grew up with a father who is a professional bodybuilder. So, I’ve watched what someone can do in the span of 12 weeks – altering the ounces of chicken, or the steak, or all the things,” Pope explained. He emphasized the importance of intention behind actions, whether it’s dietary changes or a rigorous skincare routine. “It can be a thin line between eating clean and starving yourself, or not eating, but I think it’s important to be mindful of what the goal is. What is the intention? There is an intention with everything that we do.” Pope also shared his personal approach to self-care, which includes a disciplined skincare regimen. “I have a very rigorous skincare regimen because I dealt with bad skin years ago, but I have to be intentional about it. At night, we bring it down – the lights are low, I got my oils, I got my serums and I do my thing. It’s a way of self-care with the result that my skin will hopefully look healthy and not dry. Nobody wants to be ashy! So, I pivoted that – turned my self-care into something that also makes me look and feel good.”

Other cast members also weighed in on the concept of self-care. Rebecca Hall, who plays Agent Jordan Bennett, noted, “I think if you’re doing stuff that makes you feel good, then it’s self-care. If you’re doing things to make yourself look like someone that’s not you, then it’s maybe something else.” Ashton Kutcher offered a more pragmatic view, describing his routine as simply “what you do.”

Ryan Murphy’s Vision: Collaborative Storytelling and Distinctive Aesthetic

Working with Ryan Murphy, known for his prolific output including ‘Glee’ and ‘American Horror Story,’ is a unique experience, according to the cast. Evan Peters, a long-time Murphy collaborator, highlighted the creator’s collaborative spirit. “Ryan is incredibly collaborative, just sort of behind-the-scenes. He’s always open to new ideas. You throw an idea at him, he’ll try it, you know? Even if it doesn’t work or he doesn’t really like it. He’ll be like, ‘Well, let’s try it. We’ll do that and then we’ll try my way.’ And usually, his way is right,” Peters told *Forbes*. Peters also noted Murphy’s consistent message: “I think the show sort of has a through line, as all Ryan Murphy shows do, about the thing that makes you, you and makes you unique is the thing that makes you interesting.”

Anthony Ramos praised Murphy’s production values and distinct visual style. “I think Ryan’s budgets, number one. The way he shoots, especially when he directs, he has a very specific point-of-view. He likes to get creative with how he shoots. Anything can change at any moment and I think he has a specific aesthetic that people know,” Ramos explained. Rebecca Hall echoed this, stating, “He has got a style that is so completely his. You know what a Ryan Murphy production is – like you can spot it just from like looking at some footage or even a photograph, probably, at a certain point. There’s just a certain kind of flair and there’s a certain kind of individuality, and it’s always subversive.”

Pope, who has also worked on previous Ryan Murphy productions like ‘Pose’ and ‘Hollywood,’ appreciates Murphy’s keen observational skills. “I think what’s beautiful about working with Ryan, and now having different experiences to compare them to – Ryan is a good friend outside of just work. I think what he’s able to do – he’s an observer. He’s able to observe the talent and the people, and kind of curate an interesting group together,” Pope noted. He added that Murphy’s compelling pitches make it hard to say no: “Ryan pitches you that idea – before you get off the phone with him, you’re saying yes.”

Beyond the Script: Actors’ Insights and Executive Roles

Beyond their on-screen performances, Jeremy Pope and Anthony Ramos took on additional responsibilities as executive producers for ‘The Beauty,’ a unique opportunity for actors to be deeply involved in the creative process. “You don’t typically get the opportunity to do [that] as an actor,” Ramos told *BroadwayWorld*, highlighting the value of this expanded role.

When asked what advice they would give their conflicted characters, the cast offered revealing insights. Rebecca Hall jokingly advised Peters’ character Cooper, “Don’t sleep with him,” to which Peters quickly added, “Yeah, I would have said that, too. Yeah, don’t sleep with him and tell her you love her. Come on, Coop!” Ashton Kutcher, reflecting on his character “The Corporation,” suggested, “I would probably tell that character to put down the measuring stick. You’re already there. You can just be you and that’s enough.” Ramos’s advice to “The Assassin” was stark: “Get out while you still can. It’s not too late. You’re not too far down the road.”

Jeremy Pope’s advice for his character, Jeremy, delved into the character’s internal struggles. “I mean, I’m bending the question, but there’s a scene in episode one where you hear my character Jeremy being talked to by his mother and he’s not hearing – there’s nothing audible. It’s like murmuring. So, I think for him, people are always telling him something. I think if I were on the opposite side, I would just listen. I would listen to what’s going on and ask Jeremy to share maybe a little bit more, on what’s happening on the inside, instead of trying to project what I think he might need. I think that’s where we meet him and that’s where it tips him a little to becoming a little unhinged.” This insight underscores the show’s psychological depth, hinting at the internal turmoil that drives characters to their extreme actions.

‘The Beauty’ stands as a timely and potent exploration of societal pressures to conform to impossible beauty standards, a narrative amplified by Ryan Murphy’s signature blend of high-concept drama and subversive commentary, making it a compelling watch for those grappling with the pervasive influence of appearance in modern culture.