At the center of beauty’s most provocative new narrative is British actress Rebecca Hall, who stepped into the female lead of The Beauty this year. Though the FX series wrapped earlier this month, its message lingers well beyond the finale.
“It just sounded like the most Ryan Murphy show of all,” Hall says, drawn to its sharp, zeitgeist-capturing premise: a “fountain of youth” drug with a devastating cost. While she has long explored the complexities of beauty through her work, she describes the series less as a shift in perspective and more as a refinement—“the right show for the right time,” especially as modern technology continues to push the boundaries of what’s physically possible.
Off-screen, her approach is far more grounded. Simple, restorative rituals—unplugged baths, dry brushing and meditation—offer a counterbalance to the intensity of her work, reflecting a philosophy that beauty, like her career, is “a living thing that’s always on the move.”
What initially drew you to the series, and what did you find most compelling about the world it created?
“I feel I had a unique experience. Before I even read the script, Ryan Murphy took me to breakfast and described to me the show’s plot and world. It was one of those peculiar pinch yourself moments because it just sounded like the most Ryan Murphy-sounding show of all Ryan Murphy shows, and there was Ryan describing it to me. He has such a nose for the zeitgeist and for honing in on what everyone wants to watch. It just felt so impossibly of the moment.”
Did working on this project shift the way you think about beauty standards or physical perfection in today’s culture?
“These are things I try to think about fairly rigorously given the industry I’m in. I don’t know that it particularly shifted how I think about it as much as it focused my attention. It’s the right show for the right time. It’s probably naive to suggest that we’re more obsessed with these things than people have been at other times, but I think there is something unique about this moment because certain things are technically possible today that just weren’t before now.”
The series feels very timely in its reflection of our obsession with appearance. What conversations do you hope it sparks for viewers?
“I don’t like to direct conversations. All the conversations are good! But I suppose the sense that chasing beauty from an external source is endless and dangerous is a good place to start. Chase it all you want if it’s your own standard, but meeting something outside of yourself…that way madness lies. That said, it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle your own innate sensibility from whatever social conditioning you’ve had, so, you know. Much to discuss.”
Was there a moment while filming when the show’s message about beauty or identity really clicked for you?
“No, I think it’s cumulative, and like anything smart it’s not looking to deliver you a message as much as present you with a lot of stuff to chew on.”
You’ve portrayed many complex characters. What distinguishes this role from others you’ve played?
“Honestly, Ryan asked me to be myself. Keep my accent. Make jokes, have fun. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to do that.”
Has your definition of beauty evolved over the course of your career, and if so, how does that evolution show up in the roles you choose?
“My definition of beauty is a living thing that’s always on the move. I hope I always pick roles that are in tune with that.”
Are there any beauty or self-care rituals that help you decompress during intense projects like this one?
“When I’m working on something intense, I also lean heavily on very simple rituals that help me reset. I’m a devoted bath person. For me, it’s less about pampering and more about creating a quiet pause in the day. I turn everything off: no phone, no music, no podcasts. Just a candle and a bit of space to think or read. I’ll dry brush beforehand—I love the one from HigherDOSE—then soak in bath oils, usually something from Kindred Black or a really beautiful lavender oil, and follow it with their body oils after. The whole thing feels grounding and restorative.
I also like to lie on my PEMF heat mat and meditate. I think I must just run cold, because most of my self-care rituals involve getting extremely warm. We’re currently renovating our very old house, and I have this ongoing fantasy of somehow working a sauna into the plan. When I’m traveling or dealing with jet lag, I always have the MMSkincare MMSphere2Go from MMSkincare with me. I’ve come to think of it as less of a beauty gadget and more of a small ritual I can take anywhere. Taking a few quiet minutes to use it at the end of the day helps me slow down and reset a bit, especially when everything feels hectic or out of rhythm. It has nine LED settings to address skin and wellness concerns such as inflammation, acne and insomnia.”
