Bella Hadid shares lessons from filming and what she learned off-camera

Bella Hadid said starring in Ryan Murphy’s FX series The Beauty taught her to release her longtime obsession with perfectionism and embrace a new sense of freedom both on and off the set.

The 29-year-old, who plays Ruby, an international supermodel caught in a dark body-horror storyline, told Vogue that stepping out of her comfort zone was the most important lesson from the production.

“The entire set taught me how to release control and the obsession with perfectionism,” Hadid said in a March 12 interview. 

“My comfort zone is when I’m in control, but I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone, let loose, and let go.”

Hadid, who has built a career defined by style and looks, explained that her focus on beauty became secondary while filming. 

“Being beautiful or perfect was the lowest thing on this list at the end of a day on set, and that was a really big learning lesson for me. I will have that for the rest of my life,” she said.

The actress described her castmates, including Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Ramos, and Jeremy Pope, as supportive, even though much of the series was filmed separately. 

“They were able to just tell me a lot of words of wisdom and explain to me that even being crazy and weird is still positive,” she told People.

“We’re all able to be different versions of ourselves and that’s what was most important for me on this set,” Hadid added. 

She recalled having just one cast dinner together but described it as “awesome,” emphasizing how welcoming and impactful her co-stars were despite the separate shoots.

Looking ahead, Hadid expressed interest in exploring new types of roles, including romantic comedies or projects related to her passion for horse riding. “If they do a live-action Spirit movie, sign me up, I’m ready to go,” she said.

The Beauty premiered on January 21 on FX, showcasing Hadid in a challenging new light while offering the model an opportunity to grow personally and professionally.