Ashton Kutcher Talks Playing the Villain in “The Beauty”

Ashton Kutcher recently shared his thoughts with Page Six about his role as the antagonist in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming film, “The Beauty.”

“It’s really fun,” he mentioned at the premiere in New York City earlier this week.

Kutcher portrays Byron Fost, a tech billionaire linked to a treatment called “The Beauty,” which promises users improved looks but carries some pretty severe side effects.

“I realized a long time ago that you can’t really judge your own character. You need to understand why that character thinks what they’re doing is justified,” he explained regarding Fost’s morally questionable actions.

“The psychological challenge of making sense of those actions was fascinating,” he noted.

At 47, Kutcher reflected on how his character resembles many immoral people in society.

“He’s doing all these things and genuinely doesn’t think they’re bad,” he elaborated. “It’s a common trait among those who do awful things; perhaps they have a certain outlook on life.”

Having begun his career in modeling, Kutcher pointed out how society’s fascination with appearance and cosmetic interventions has evolved dramatically.

“Now, brands like Sephora and Ulta are directing their marketing toward teens and kids with flawless skin, yet they’re still feeling pressured to look better… It’s pretty much the world we live in today,” he remarked.

Kutcher also expressed concerns about the impact of social media on people. “Everyone lives in this online space, in public view, and I think they face judgment from those who don’t know what they’re experiencing or what’s on their minds,” he said.

He likened it to the pressures of middle school, suggesting that such online scrutiny receives more focus than it ought to.

The star-studded premiere featured several other celebrities, including Kutcher’s co-star Isabella Rossellini, Jeremy Pope, Bella Hadid, Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, and Rebecca Hall.

“The Beauty” is set to premiere on FX on January 21st at 9 PM ET.