Brianne Tju liked her Rugobes series of books in elementary school.
Although she says she didn’t yet have a sense of herself, the actress tells PEOPLE that Scott Westerfeld’s popular books about a quirky heroine and the friend who helps her see the truth resonated. Now, Tju — who started out as a child actress in family sitcoms Cory in the house and So random! – plays that lovable, scrappy best friend Shay, alongside Joey King as Tally Youngblood, the lead in the YA dystopian novel.
In the new Netflix movie, which faithfully adapts Westerfeld’s first book from the early 2000s Rugobes series, Tally and Shay belong to a group of “uglies”, otherwise known as teenagers before their 16th birthday who have yet to undergo their society’s mandatory cosmetic procedure to become “pretty”. Although both are a bit of a rebel, Shay has real plans to escape her fate and join “The Smoke”, a group of detractors who refuse to live within the dystopian binary of ugly and beautiful.
“When I was younger, I was more lost in Tally’s journey. Now I can really appreciate her journey and the fact that yes, she’s a hero, she’s the main character in this story, but she doesn’t start out with that hero mentality,” Tju tells PEOPLE.
Brianne Tju as Shay in UGLY.
Brian Douglas/Netflix
Becoming These Heroes is an action-packed journey that Tally and Shay embark on to learn the beauty standards and values of their dystopian society, something Tju says is a perfect parallel to modern society’s fixation on social media, filters and cosmetic surgery.
“This film is a great reminder to be critical of the things we do automatically or feel compelled to do. Whether it’s following trends in terms of beauty standards or using filters and Facetune on our Instagrams,” she says.
Warning: Rugobes spoilers ahead!
Pinpointing these standards of beauty was part of Tuya’s filming process as her character undergoes a radical transformation towards the end of the film, captured by government leaders and forced to undergo “beauty” surgery. Tju says that “complaining” about her appearance with the film’s team to decide which features to change to make her socially attractive was “disturbing” but ultimately served a greater purpose.
“Essentially, I had a completely different body. I had a pushup bra in which they were like chops, and then every day we put a silicone butt and sewed me into a dress,” says Tju, adding that the wig, many hours in the make-up chair and CGI added to transform. “I wasn’t comfortable in that outfit. And I like the previous version of Shay better.”
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Brianne Tju attends a special screening of Netflix’s “Uglies” in Los Angeles.
Roger Kisby/Getty
Showing this “dramatic” transformation on screen may have been difficult for Tja at times, but Light as a feather the actress says she hopes it helps viewers see that in this society people have choices and should think critically about why they want to change their appearance.
“This film is not condemning surgery, it’s just saying that you have a choice. You don’t have to follow these beauty standards in any way to be worthy,” says Tju. “I think the greatest freedom we can have is fighting for each other’s self-worth and autonomy.”
Referring to the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade, which struck down federal protections for abortion rights, Tju says he is working on Rugobes he reaffirmed to her that power over one’s own body could not be more important.
“Sometimes we are seen as objects that are malleable and can change, but the power is in our individuality and our own self-love,” she says. “The female friendship factor in Rugobes is also very important. Tally and Shay really revealed to each other that they are lovable, valuable and capable just the way they are.”
Rugobes now streaming on Netflix.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education