Nicola Peltz continues her acting career amid Beckham family drama with ‘Death Becomes Her’-inspired role

Nicola Peltz Beckham is having a headline-making week, both on screen and off. The actress makes a surprise appearance in the season 1 finale of The Beauty, which aired March 4 on FX and Hulu. In the episode, she briefly steps into the role of Franny Forst, a character originally played by Isabella Rossellini.

In a transformation that serves as a stylish tribute to Rossellini’s iconic look in the cult classic ‘Death Becomes Her,’ the dramatic moment arrives during the finale written by producer Ryan Murphy and co-creator Matthew Hodgson. 

In the scene, Franny is dancing with her sons Tig (Ray Nicholson) and Gunther (Brandon Gillard) when they inject her with a powerful beauty drug developed by her husband Byron, played by Ashton Kutcher, despite her long-standing refusal to take it.

© FX

When Franny appears again, she has been physically transformed and is now portrayed by Peltz Beckham. Wearing a revealing jeweled outfit reminiscent of Rossellini’s look in ‘Death Becomes Her,’ the cameo visually ties the show’s body-horror storyline to the beloved 1992 film directed by Robert Zemeckis.

© Universal Pictures

But the transformation isn’t a happy one for Franny. “I feel like a prisoner, trapped inside a body that is not mine. Everything that I have worked for, everything that I have earned, my scars, my stretch marks, the age I owned, taken from me,” she tells Byron after the change.

© FX

According to the show’s companion podcast, Murphy has long been a fan of ‘Death Becomes Her,’ revealing he saw the film four times in theaters when it was released, something Rossellini said she hadn’t known while working with him.

Nicola’s acting career:

Peltz Beckham’s cameo comes as she continues building her acting résumé. She previously appeared in the ‘Transformers’ franchise and the series ‘Bates Motel,’ and portrayed Playboy model Dorothy Stratten in the Hulu drama ‘Welcome to Chippendales.’

© Arnold Jerocki

Her most recent project before ‘The Beauty’ was the 2024 film Lola, which she also wrote and directed. Next up, she’ll star in the indie drama ‘Prima,’ directed by the Morelli Brothers. The film follows Margo, a devoted ballerina whose life begins to unravel as modern pressures threaten the traditions of her company. The cast also includes Faye Dunaway, Jack Huston, and Mira Sorvino.

Celebrating Brooklyn Beckham:

Away from Hollywood, Peltz Beckham recently shared a sweet glimpse into husband Brooklyn Beckham’s 27th birthday celebration. On Instagram, the actress posted a video showing Brooklyn surrounded by metallic balloons, wrapped gifts and a playful “cake” made of pink-frosted donuts spelling out “Happy Birthday Brooklyn.” Some of the gift boxes featured branding for his hot sauce line, Cloud 9.

© Stefanie Keenan

Alongside the clip, she wrote a loving tribute to her husband, to which Brooklyn replied simply in the comments, “My baby girl.” His parents, soccer icon David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, also shared birthday messages on social media, posting throwback photos and heartfelt notes to their eldest son despite the ongoing family drama.