Netflix’sUgliestackles important concepts in a dystopian future and utilizes an excellent cast of actors to do so. The movie, based on the popular YA book series by Scott Westerfeld, was a long time coming, with announcements of a film adaptation first announced way back in 2006. Unfortunately, something always seemed to fall through—until actor Joey King went to bat to make this project happen. Now,Ugliesis finally a reality on Netflix, withstar King joined by talented castmateslike Chase Stokes, Keith Powers, Brianne Tju, and more.
Ugliesfollows Tally Youngblood, a teen who lives in a world nearly destroyed by humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels. When Earth’s cities were rebuilt, it was determined thatevery citizen would undergo a procedure on their 16th birthdaythat would make them flawlessly beautiful. Lovely and happy, these people never caused problems, demonstrated greed, or started wars and, therefore, lived in paradise. However,younger teens like Tally—the Uglies—were known to cause more trouble. It’s a sci-fi story requiring some exceptional talent to pull off.
Joey King As Tally Youngblood
Date Of Birth: June 05, 2025
Los Angeles-born actor Joey King burst into the limelight playing Ramona Quimby in the 2010 comedyRamona and Beezus, and her career has only grown since.She went on tostar in theNetflix film seriesThe Kissing Boothbetween 2018 and 2021 before breaking into even more mainstream projects like 2019’sThe Act, 2022’sBullet Train, and 2024’sA Family Affair.Uglieswas a labor of love for King, who loved the book series and became determined to make the film a reality (serving as an executive producer as well as star).
Ramona and Beezus(2010)
Bullet Train(2022)
Malen’kiy Prints
King plays Tally in Netflix’s Uglies, a 15-year-old eager for the procedure that would turn her pretty.
King plays Tally in Netflix’sUglies, a 15-year-old eager for the procedure that would turn her pretty. However, as she waits for her birthday and the day she will finally join her best friend, Peris, in New Pretty Town, she meets Shay, a fellow Ugly whose plan to run away from civilization changes everything.
Chase Stokes As Peris
Date Of Birth: June 25, 2025
Chase Stokes, born in Maryland, isbest known for playing John B. Routledge in the Netflix seriesOuter Banksand a handful of other projects with the streaming service. He has alsoappeared inStranger Things,Tell Me Your Secrets, andDaytime Divas. In addition toUglies, Chase has appeared in films likeBetween Waves(2018) andDr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets(2021).
Outer Banks(2020 - present)
Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets(2021)
Martin
Stokes plays Peris inUglies, Tally’s best friend who turned 16 a month before her. Nothing romantic ever happened between Tally and Peris, but there was always the implication that something might once they were both Pretty. While waiting to turn 16 and join her friend, Tally snuck over to New Pretty Town to visit Peris but found that his appearance wasn’t all that had changed.
Keith Powers As David
Date Of Birth: July 18, 2025
LosAngeles-born actor and model Keith Powers claimed his first official movie role in 2015, playing Tyree inStraight Outta Compton, after appearing in anepisode ofPretty Little Liarsin2013. From there, he appeared in othernotable projects likeBefore I Fall(2017),The New Edition Story(2017),What/If(2019), andOn Our Way(2021).
What/If(2019)
Todd Archer
Powers' character inUglies, David, is a mysterious teen who has always lived outside the city. He is responsible for helping the Uglies escape prior to their operation, leading them to the mysterious “Smoke.” He and Tally develop quite a connection, though he doesn’t know her ugliest secret.
David’s name is the only modern name inUglies, demonstrating how he was raised outside the standards of the city.
Brianne Tju As Shay
Date Of Birth: July 03, 2025
Californian Brianne Tju first broke into acting in the 2007 Disney Channel seriesCory in the Houseand gained her first movie role in 2015’sPass the Light. From there, she joined the main cast of 2017’sLife After Failure,playing Jasmine, before appearing in episodes of9-1-1andA.P. Bioin 2018.Tju then took on primary roles in the2021 seriesI Know What You Did Last Summerand 2022’sHigh School.
Cory in the House(2007)
Light as a Feather(2018)
I Know What You Did Last Summer(2021)
Margot
Tju plays Shay in Netflix’sUglies, a rebellious Ugly with the same birthday as Tally.
Tju plays Shay in Netflix’sUglies, a rebellious Ugly with the same birthday as Tally. The pair didn’t become friends until after Peris left for New Pretty Town, but they quickly formed a close bond. However, Shay was unsure that she ever wanted to become a Pretty, and when she got up the nerve to run away to the Smoke, Tally was left in the turmoil that followed.
Laverne Cox As Dr. Cable
Date Of Birth: July 18, 2025
Laverne Cox, born and raised in Alabama, is best known for her role in theNetflix seriesOrange Is The New Black, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination. She guest starred in a variety of TV shows, both as characters and herself, includingThe Mindy Project(2015),Weird City(2019),Dear White People(2019), andInventing Anna(2022). Cox also became TV host of her own show,If We’re Being Honest with Laverne Coxin 2022. Her movie roles includePromising Young Woman(202),Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen(2020) andJolt(2021).
Jolt(2021)
Detective Nevin
Cox’sUgliescharacter, Dr. Cable, runs the show in Tally’s city and has made it her mission to bring back all the Uglies who ran away to the Smoke. She is willing to take violent measures to make this happen and blackmails Tally into traveling across the wilderness to get her friends back.
Uglies Supporting Cast & Characters
Meet The Supporting Cast Of Uglies
Jan Luis Castellanos as Croy- Jan Luis Castellanos plays Croy in Netflix’sUglies, one of the runaway Uglies who live in the Smoke. Castellanos is best known for13 Reasons WhyandTall Girl 2.
Charmin Lee as Maddy- Charmin Lee, best known forParenthood(1989)and The 5th Wave(2016), plays Maddy inUglies, David’s mother.
DeVon Johnson as Az- DeVon Johnson plays David’s father, Az, inUglies.Johnson is best known for his roles in projects likeCinnamon(2023),Genius(2024), andBad Boys: Ride or Die(2024).
Uglies
Cast
In a futuristic society where everyone undergoes compulsory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty,” Tally eagerly awaits her transformation. However, when her friend goes missing, she embarks on a journey that challenges her beliefs about beauty, conformity, and rebellion, ultimately questioning the foundations of their world.
