The “worn face” is taking over Hollywood — and making beauty boring

Hollywood’s old guard looks special. Isn’t it always like that? Meryl. the. Tom. Morgan. He died. Denzel. refrigerator. The newer stars look more familiar. We’re not saying that millennial and Gen Z stars have had some work done (although many of them certainly have). But there is arguably a more general quality to beauty nowadays. Call her the face of Instagram. Or, in reference to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on beauty standards, the “sloping face.”

It’s a trend I first noticed while attending TV broadcast parties a decade ago. The older actors at events hosted by CBS, NBC and Fox looked more distinguished. But at a party hosted by The CW, the network’s stars were like a miniature army, all with big Disney princess eyes, full lips, and long, thick hair (although they’ve all appeared in different shows).

Think about this: When was the last time you saw an under-40 star with less than perfect teeth? What about a bald spot or a big nose? (Adam Driver, 42, over the limit.) What about the lead actress in a movie whose BMI is over 30? (Until the recent release of Bridget Jones — last year Mad about the boy -Was Bridget a super fit, tree-climbing, hiking-) or a shirtless, abs-less lead actor? (Did I hear that body fat percentage is eight percent? Six percent? Sold—to the dehydrated man who can only dream of baking.)

What happened?

The homogeneity of beauty standards in Hollywood is the result of the decisions of the gatekeepers of stardom, as well as the stars themselves, who urge plastic surgeons, cosmetic dentists, and dermatologists to achieve a fashionable appearance that they hope will benefit them or extend their careers. As with seemingly every modern problem, one suspects that social media is at least partly to blame here. Pressure on talent to conform aesthetically was emerging quietly, behind the scenes, from agents, managers and others within the system. Now, actors who are brave or foolish enough to read online comments can be pushed to change their look every time they look at their phone; She was forced to play Whac-A-Mole with any protruding features (which are sometimes literal moles — Rachel McAdams kept her spunk, but heaven knows how many bumps there are on other famous mugs that have been frozen and scraped off).

“There is a lot of abuse about my appearance, and this makes me ashamed.” Saltburn Actor Barry Keoghan, who has been dubbed the “sexy rodent man,” recently admitted. “It made me really go inside myself, not wanting to go places, not wanting to go out.”

And this from a popular Oscar nominee who has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past few years despite not seeming like a matinee idol. One can only imagine the amount of toxicity and pressure a less successful star receives – especially if it’s a woman, as men have always been given more leeway in their outward appearance.

Even objectively stunning stars come under scrutiny for any element that represents a departure from the norm: Anya Taylor-Joy is ridiculed for her widely spaced eyes. Mia Goth is highlighted because of her barely-there eyebrows. Sidney Sweeney’s breasts have sparked heated debate (“Why is the conversation about Sidney Sweeney’s breasts so turbulent?” Vogue magazinewhile a Slate headline insisted, “Sydney Sweeney’s Boobs Aren’t That Big.”

With increasing similarity across the board, anything distinct seems more distinct, well, more distinct, and it seems that many cannot resist pointing out that “one of these things is not like the other.”

Another possible reason, more specific to Hollywood: the rise of virtual casting sessions, especially since the pandemic. Actors recording themselves on tape or auditioning via Zoom has become the norm, especially in early casting rounds. Very convenient for all involved, although in-person sessions are also required to seal the deal, especially for key roles.

But have we lost something by shifting so much of the casting process virtual? There can be a magical sense of presence when an actor walks into a room, and reducing a producer and director’s first impression to a flat, boxed image can only enhance the value of a perfectly symmetrical, pleasing face at the expense of more intangible attributes.

It’s no wonder, then, that plastic surgery is becoming more popular, according to the latest study by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with year-over-year growth since 2023. Patients are getting younger, too, with 74 percent of surgeons agreeing that “the average age of facelift patients is getting younger” (up 9 percent from the previous year). According to Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Jason Diamond, celebrity patients are, unsurprisingly, younger than average (their procedure choices tend to be similar to non-famous patients, just with more concern about their scars not showing up on camera).

The result has been a new candor about plastic surgery—although often only when the work becomes so obvious that it becomes less difficult to acknowledge. Denise Richards has talked about her facelift, Megan Fox and Kendall Jenner have discussed their breast surgeries, and everyone from Courteney Cox to Kristin Davis to Simon Cowell has expressed remorse over fillers. However, those who are happy with their fillings tend to stay full and calm.

So where does that leave us? With that old trope – that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? That stars should accept their flaws? (I can hear you giggle.) Should we pay casting directors not to be swayed by the conventionally attractive face? Good luck with that. Sixty years ago, a famous study brought together college students at a dance party and found that a partner’s physical attractiveness was “by far” the biggest determinant of a person’s likability. Humans love cuteness — even if we all agree that it’s not fair or particularly interesting.

This story appears in the July 2026 issue of The Hollywood Reporter entitled “The New Face of Hollywood.” Click here to read more.

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