"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," they say, but what if that beholder were the government? What if you were mandated to undergo surgery at 16 just to fit in? Welcome to the dystopian world of Uglies, where beauty isn't a choice—it’s the law. Joey King stars as Tally in this gripping thriller, where conformity is literally carved into your face, and rebellion may be the only escape.

Don’t let the flawless cheekbones fool you—there’s nothing shallow about Laverne Cox’s portrayal of Dr. Cable, the chilling enforcer of these beauty standards. With a smile as sharp as a scalpel, she controls this twisted society with surgical precision. As Tally navigates a world where appearances are everything, she must decide if fitting in is worth losing herself—or if being "ugly" is the ultimate act of defiance.

Dr. Cable’s influence isn’t just medical; she holds immense political power, enforcing society’s beauty rules with ruthless authority. Laverne Cox delved into this dynamic, revealing how Dr. Cable manipulates both medicine and governance to control societal norms.

“For Dr. Cable, it's about power and control and the opportunity to create the society that she wants,” Cox explained.

“At the end of the day, Dr. Cable wants an equal society where no one’s discriminated against because of their appearance. Her methods are ethically questionable, but that’s her objective. She uses science and understands that the political piece is about controlling how people think. This movie makes me think a lot about the media and how it shapes minds. I’ve been reflecting on how social media, like lesions on the brain, homogenizes people and strips them of individuality.”

Cox has been outspoken about her personal political views, urging queer voters to support Democrats in the upcoming election. Her activism in fighting against oppressive systems deeply informed her portrayal of Dr. Cable, a character whose authoritarian control over beauty standards contrasts with her real-life values.

“Dr. Cable’s methods are the opposite of mine, which made playing her all the more fun,” she shared.

“She wants equality. But like those who originally envisioned communism, it can become something else. I don’t believe people start social experiments thinking they’ll become oppressive, but Dr. Cable doesn’t trust humans with the planet. She believes control is necessary—I don’t agree. I believe in people’s ability to think critically, but they need the right information and education. And beyond that, we need to cultivate emotional intelligence, something our educational systems or parents should be teaching.”

Cox also addressed why she’s voting for Democrats.

“I vote for Democrats as harm reduction,” she stated.

“I’ve been an independent my whole life until 2020, when I registered as a Democrat to vote for Bernie Sanders in the primaries. The system is corrupt, but Democrats are more movable than Republicans. We have a better chance of achieving equal rights through them. Voting is essential, and people should find ways to get involved in their communities through activism.”

Her co-star, Keith Powers, weighed in on what a world with reversed beauty standards would look like. He proposed that schools should evaluate students based on character.

“We should be graded on our character, with subjects like Math as electives,” Powers suggested.

Known as a heartthrob, Powers reflected on how Uglies changed his perspective on beauty and self-image.

“I was already going through a lot of mental health challenges,” he admitted.

“I had moments of depression, feeling like I wasn’t enough. I started comparing myself to others and couldn’t appreciate my career. Then this project came along, and it was like divine timing. The film’s themes resonated with what I was going through.”

In Uglies, Powers plays David, whose father challenges Dr. Cable’s beauty standards, advocating for self-acceptance and free thought. His co-star Chase Stokes discussed how these themes resonate with his own experiences of confronting societal beauty standards.

“I hope people watch this film and reflect on how they’re raising their children,” Stokes said.

“Beauty is more than skin deep. We need to let the younger generation explore the world and form their own perspectives, instead of imposing outdated ideas onto them.”

You can stream Uglies on Netflix starting Friday, September 13th.