Ashton Kutcher says his looks haven't always been an advantage in Hollywood.
Speaking 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 throughout his career.
"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, per 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 said he's often been passed over for more raw or gritty characters. "Sometimes it's frustrating," he admitted, explaining that casting directors don't see him as "down on your luck" material due to his polished image. But working behind the camera has given him perspective.
"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."
The That '70s Show alum, who also starred in Two and a Half Men, The Ranch, and Punk'd, said his new role in The Beauty gave him a chance to step outside 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 set in a world where a sexually transmitted virus makes those infected more physically attractive, but at a deadly cost. The series is created by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson and is expected to premiere on Hulu in early 2026. Kutcher also serves as an executive producer.
