Ashton Kutcher says his looks haven’t always worked in his favor in Hollywood.
During a panel for his upcoming FX series The Beauty at New York Comic Con on October 11, the 47-year-old actor revealed that his appearance has actually cost him roles over the years.
“I think every role you get, part of it is what you look like,” Kutcher said during the discussion moderated by series creator Ryan Murphy, according to People. “There are roles that I’ve gotten because of the way I look, and there are roles that I haven’t gotten because of the way I look.”
Kutcher admitted that he’s often been overlooked for grittier, more rugged characters. “Sometimes it’s frustrating,” he shared, explaining that casting directors rarely see him as “down on your luck” material because of his clean-cut image. Still, he said his experience behind the camera helped him understand it.
“As a producer, I understand it,” he said. “You’re trying to tell a story with pictures, and the pictures need to create a feeling for the audience.”
Known for That ’70s Show, Two and a Half Men, The Ranch, and Punk’d, Kutcher said his role in The Beauty has allowed him to break free from his usual typecast.
“Almost every one of us in this series has an incredibly nuanced role,” he said. “We’re playing something that we are or we aren’t at any given time, and it creates an ability to embody insecurities you may have and hide away.”
He added, “So often today, you only get to play your lane and nothing else because playing anything else goes against society’s rules. In this show, we get to play complicated, nuanced characters. It’s a delight. Playing this character is one of the great delights of my career.”
Based on the comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, The Beauty is an international thriller about a sexually transmitted virus that makes people more attractive — but at a deadly cost. The series, created by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, is set to premiere on Hulu in early 2026, with Kutcher also serving as an executive producer.
