As her husband and in-laws continue to play out their family feud in public, it was back to business for Nicola Peltz-Beckham as she popped up in a (very) fleeting cameo on the finale of Ryan Murphy's latest series The Beauty. With all the back and forth in the press and online between 27-year-old Brooklyn and his parents and siblings, it would be easy to forget that his heiress wife has a day job as an actress. She got the opportunity to remind us of that on the body horror sci-fi drama, which stars Evan Peters and Ashton Kutcher.
After her sons injected her with The Beauty formulation of the title, which rebirths people as a perfect version of themselves, she transformed into the 31-year-old Nicola.
To say Nicola was channeling the 1992 film Death Becomes Her, in which Isabella played mysterious, immortal socialite Lisle Von Rhuman, is an understatement. I have no doubt Ryan Murphy had that in mind for this scene given his love of campy easter eggs. Even her costume channelled it. But watching the classic and beloved film literally seemed to be the extent of Nicola's character work.
She didn't play Franny - she played (imitated) Isabella playing Lisle Von Rhuman. Looking perfectly put together she said her lines - which would actually have been a very profound speech about aging in a better actor's hands - through dead eyes before her character slit her own throat in protest at having The Beauty forced upon her.
Despite her best efforts she didn't die as later she was seen on life support as Byron invested all his resources in trying to save her while distancing himself from The Beauty.
It was possibly the most underwhelming couple of minutes of TV this year and a truly bonkers cameo in what is an already bonkers show.
For her part Nicola seems happy with her efforts. She told industry bible The Hollywood Reporter: "I was so honoured to be able to be a part of Franny. I was like, 'I have to make this incredible.' How do I be as good as her [Isabella]? She’s such an icon, and I’m so obsessed with her." She also shared several (glowing) reports about it on her Instagram stories.
Given that the character is not dead, and there is a chance of a second season after the show ended on a cliffhanger, Nicola could well get another opportunity to play Franny whch she admitted she would like, saying: "It’s a really beautiful character to be a part of. I would be honoured to continue to play her."
As a viewer I have no problem with that - as long as the character stays on life support for the duration. I don't think I could stand a full series featuring her "acting".
