Ashton Kutcher Reveals How ‘His Looks’ Have Negatively Affected His Career: ‘It’s Frustrating’

At New York Comic Con, Ashton Kutcher got candid about how his good looks have affected his acting career.

The movie star admitted that it’s been frustrating not being able to land “down-on-your-luck” roles, but noted that, as a producer, he understands why the looks of an actor matter.

In the upcoming FX series “The Beauty,” Ashton Kutcher plays a morally complex character, a role that he claims has been his most transformative to date.

Speaking at New York Comic Con on October 11 during a panel for his upcoming FX series “The Beauty,” Kutcher revealed that his looks have sometimes worked against him in Hollywood, costing him several roles over the years.

The discussion, moderated by show creator Ryan Murphy, also featured Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, and Rebecca Hall.

When Murphy asked about his experience playing a “hilarious supervillain” in the series, Kutcher reflected on the impact of appearance in casting decisions.

“I think every role you get, part of it is what you look like, right?” he said, per People Magazine. “It’s a very big part of what you’re imbuing as the character. And so, 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 while “it’s frustrating” to be overlooked for more rugged or “down-on-your-luck” roles, his experience as a producer helped him understand why those choices are made.

“You’re trying to tell a story with pictures, and the pictures need to create a feeling for the audience,” he explained.

Kutcher shared that “The Beauty” has given him one of his most transformative acting experiences of his career.

“Without giving away too much, almost every one of us has an incredibly nuanced role where, in some way, shape or form, we’re playing something that we are or we aren’t at any given time,” he said. “It creates this underlying ability to embody insecurities that you may have, that you hide away and you push down, and you don’t let anyone in the world see it.”

The “That ’70s Show” star praised Murphy for giving him a role that pushes boundaries, saying: “So often today, you only get to play your lane and nothing else, because playing anything else goes against the values that society has projected upon what people should play and shouldn’t play.”

Kutcher added, “We get to play these complicated, nuanced characters. It’s a delight. Playing this character is one of the great delights of my career.”

Offering a deeper look into his role, Kutcher described his “The Beauty” character as someone with good intentions, even if his actions might be questionable.

“I think he’s a good guy. I mean, you have to learn early that you can’t ever judge your character, because you have people who are doing things, no matter how unfair it is. They think they’re doing the right thing,” he explained.

The actor noted that his character questions society’s long-standing judgment around cosmetic enhancement.

“This character looks at it, and he goes, ‘Wait, there’s a lot of judgment around cosmetic aesthetic improvement in the world. A lot of people judge it.’ And gradually over time, people are judging it less,” he said.

Kutcher stated that his new show uses this hypocrisy to explore how society’s perception of beauty continues to evolve.

“People can go to the dentist and get braces and fix their teeth. There’s no judgment over that … but then the minute someone gets rhinoplasty, it’s like, ‘you did what?'” he asked, adding, “Why is it okay to make our teeth better but not our face better, or our nose better?”

Kutcher continued: “That layer of judgment over aesthetic enhancement is gradually starting to be chipped away at,” he said, hinting that this moral gray area drives the creation of the show’s fictional beautifying drug.

Hinting at the ethical complexity of his character’s work, Kutcher noted, “And people want it. Why is that bad? It’s bad because maybe you didn’t tell people they’re gonna explode, but it is not a problem, because I fixed that, too, with the boosters. It’s a great gig and a great deal for everyone.”

“The Beauty,” created by Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, is adapted from the acclaimed comic book series of the same name.

According to the official synopsis, the FX series follows partners Drew Foster and Kara Vaughn as they investigate a mysterious sexually transmitted disease known as “The Beauty.”

The disease grants flawless physical appearance but carries deadly consequences. As they dig deeper, the duo must navigate corruption, cover-ups, and a ruthless mercenary determined to keep the truth buried.

Set to premiere on Hulu in 2026, “The Beauty” features Kutcher not only in a starring role but also as an executive producer.