In a thought-provoking exploration of society’s obsession with physical perfection, actor Ashton Kutcher has spoken out against the notion that Hollywood is solely responsible for pushing unrealistic beauty standards. The 47-year-old star of the new science-fiction series “The Beauty” believes that the issue runs much deeper, rooted in the wider societal desire to attain an idealized appearance.
Kutcher, who plays a tech billionaire responsible for introducing a “beautifying injection” to the world, acknowledges the parallels between his show and the recent Oscar-nominated body horror film “The Substance,” which starred his ex-wife Demi Moore. The actor, who has been married to actress Mila Kunis since 2015, believes that “cosmetic enhancement is becoming socially accepted day by day.”
The latest figures from the UK show a 5% increase in cosmetic procedures in 2024, with more than 10,000 non-surgical procedures such as fillers and Botox performed by members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) during the same period. Kutcher reflects on this shift, noting that “it used to be that if you got Botox, you would not tell anybody you got them, but now people are like ‘let’s get a coffee and Botox.'”
The actor’s co-star, Jeremy Pope, who is best known for his role in the American drama “Pose,” suggests that the show “asks the audience how much would you give or sacrifice to experience ultimate beauty or success.” Kutcher echoes this sentiment, stating that “beauty is tethered to security, success and power” in today’s society, where “influencers that are millionaires” can wield significant influence through their online presence.
Actress Rebecca Hall, who stars alongside Kutcher and Pope in the series, draws parallels between “The Beauty” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” highlighting the show’s exploration of the consequences of chasing an idealized version of beauty. Hall believes that “there’s this notion that there is a standard we should all go out and buy” and that “it’s madness because then we’ll all end up looking exactly the same and then we will immediately pivot to finding something else beautiful.”
As the series delves into the dark side of the pursuit of physical perfection, Kutcher and his co-stars hope to spark a much-needed conversation about the societal pressures and the potential dangers of sacrificing one’s true self in the quest for an unattainable standard of beauty.
