Ashton Kutcher Admits He’s Missed Out on Roles Because of ‘the Way I Look’

Ashton Kutcher’s leading man looks have cost him a few roles. 

The actor, 47, said during a panel for his upcoming FX television series The Beauty at New York Comic Con on Saturday, Oct. 11, that he has missed out on projects due to his appearance. 

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

When asked by Murphy, 59, about his experience playing a “hilarious supervillain” in the show, Kutcher said, “I think every role you get, part of it is what you look like, right? 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.”

“Sometimes it’s frustrating,” the actor added, explaining that he’s been passed over for “down on your luck” characters because of his polished looks. However, he shared, his work as a producer has made him realize the reason behind certain casting choices.

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

Kutcher noted that The Beauty offered him a new experience as an actor.

“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. 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,” he said.

The That ‘70s Show alum praised Murphy for his unique role, 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.”

He added that in the upcoming FX series “we get to play these complicated, nuanced characters. It’s a delight. Playing this character is one of the great delights of my career.”

The Beauty is an international thriller created by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, and based on the comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. According to a synopsis, the show is about a sexually transmitted virus that “makes those affected more beautiful, but with deadly consequences.”

It is expected to premiere on Hulu in early 2026. 

Giving more insight into his character, Kutcher said, “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.”

“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.

However, Kutcher noticed a double standard still exists. “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?’ ”

“Why is it okay to make our teeth better but not our face better, or our nose better?” he asked.

“That layer of judgment over aesthetic enhancement is gradually starting to be chipped away at,” Kutcher continued, hinting that it leads to the creation of the beautifying drug in the fictional show.

“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,” the actor said, in reference to his character. “It’s a great gig and a great deal for everyone.” 

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Kutcher starred as Michael Kelso on That ‘70s Show for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. The actor has since played main roles in numerous television shows, including Two and a Half Men and The Ranch, as well as hosted the reality series Punk’d. 

On the big screen, the actor has starred in several romantic comedies, including Coming Soon, No Strings Attached, New Year’s Eve and Your Place or Mine.

He also serves as an executive producer on The Beauty.