In recent years, there has been a new way to critique actors: the curse of the “IPhone face.” This can be defined as when a movie or tv show attempts to film a period piece - more specifically in the Victorian period - and an actor is condemned for looking too modern for the role. This casting takes the audience out of the story because they know that that face was not getting ready for a Victorian ball, but rather posting on their Instagram story.

There are some valid distinctions that give someone a more contemporary look. A character with abnormally perfect teeth can be a little off-putting as good veneers have not been available until very recently. So can lip filler, face work or any form of plastic surgery– not because it looks bad, but because it just wasn’t possible in its time. However, these are not the only exclusions for an audience’s apparent standards for period pieces. 

How does one achieve the timeless look? First, one must never be recognized or mainstream at all. If an actor has been in another major, modern piece, they are automatically excluded from all period pieces. Second, one must not be stereotypically beautiful by today’s standards; an actor cannot dare be attractive in this contemporary era in order to fit into a thousand years ago. Third, one must look like the hyper-realistic renaissance paintings of the time: pale skin, big eyes, clear complexion– essentially an unattainable beauty standard even for that era.

One of the most famous and violating examples of this modern look is the show Bridgerton. Set in the 1800s, it attempts to follow strict historical accuracy, specifically on its use of courtship as a plot device. However, it knows that it’s made for a modern audience and blends those elements into its setting. There is a diverse cast– something that would not have been seen in the British elite of the 19th century. The soundtrack takes modern pop songs and turns them into orchestral pieces more fitting of a Victorian ball. While the show’s fashion from season one to season three has definitely regressed from fashion at that time, it was never accurate to begin with. The audience criticizing the show’s modernity is setting it to a standard that the show never intended to meet. 

Season three saw a recasting for one of the youngest Bridgerton sisters, Francesca, a reveal which left twenty-nine year old Hannah Dodd facing criticism for her new role. All of a sudden, now her face was too modern, has seen an iPhone and is not fit for a role as prestigious as the historically accurate Bridgerton. However, looking at photos of the actress, it’s not super obvious that she is from the 21st century. She doesn’t have veneers  or obvious work done, and this is her first major role. Her modernity solely comes from her styling. She has a glowy, dewy makeup look that has been extremely popular in recent years, a bold eyeshadow look that would’ve been frowned upon and unattainable false lashes. It certainly doesn’t help that she’s arrived in season three, the season when the makeup artists completely neglected any historical accuracy. For the other characters, audiences have somewhat of an idea of what they look like with more regency-era looks, as seen in seasons one and two. However, this just proves the point: this show is not attempting to fit in with the time period it's based on. The actors are more diverse because they are cast on talent, rather than  the realism of seeing them in a history book. The music isn’t based on Victorian balls because it’s entertaining to recognize the song in the background of a scene. The makeup looks aren’t historically accurate because the show isn’t going for historical accuracy. 

It’s perfectly normal to not like the way someone was cast in a piece of work. A lot of times, an actor may not have the range for a specific character or has a certain type that they are more suited to playing. With the release of Emerald Fennell’s cast for a “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, misplaced anger went to Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi for being casted as the  main roles. Should they play Catherine and Heathcliff? No, and not because of the irrelevant claim of “iPhone face” that comes from their familiarity with modern audiences, but because of actual age inaccuracy with the source material. Because the outrage comes from baseless complaints, however, these roles likely won’t be recast. 

There is no reason to exclude a whole category of people from acting in a role just because of external factors. In today’s society, people shouldn’t need more excuses to criticize and judge others' looks, especially when comparing it to some made-up standard such as “IPhone face.” Faces haven’t evolved that much in the last few hundreds of years, and critiquing people who look more modern is only going to make people more insecure than ever. Creating categories such as this and organizing people into them only makes people - not just celebrities, but everyone on social media seeing these criticisms - more insecure. No one will ever be as beautiful as a Greek sculpture, or a renaissance painting, or a regency drawing, because we’re just people, and that should be enough.

Written by Gracie Streetman, Photography: Carolina Flores, Social Media: Chelsea Rainwater, Styling: Deb Zhang