Netflix's 'Uglies' Movie Is About 'Self-Esteem,' Says Star Brianne Tju (Exclusive)

Brianne Tju loved the Ugly Book series in elementary school.

Although she says she didn't yet have self-confidence, the actress tells PEOPLE that Scott Westerfeld's popular books about an unlikely heroine and the friend who helps her see the truth resonated with her. Now, Tju – who started out as a child actress in the family sitcoms Cory in the house And So coincidental! – plays the lovable, fierce best friend Shay, alongside Joey King as Tally Youngblood, the contradictory main character of the dystopian young adult novel.

In the new Netflix film, which faithfully adapts Westerfeld's first book from the early 2000s Ugly In the series, Tally and Shay are part of the group of “uglies,” teenagers under the age of 16 who have not yet undergone the cosmetic surgery required by society to make them “pretty.” Although they are both somewhat rebellious, Shay actually has plans to escape her fate and join “The Smoke,” a group of critics who refuse to live in the dystopian dichotomy of ugly and pretty.

“When I was younger, I got more lost in Tally's journey. Now I can really appreciate her journey and the fact that even though she's the heroine, the main character of this story, she doesn't come with that hero mentality from the start,” Tju tells PEOPLE.

The path to becoming these heroes is an action-packed journey in which Tally and Shay unlearn the beauty standards and values ​​of their dystopian society, which 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 automatically do or feel compelled to do, whether it's following trends in beauty ideals or using filters and Facetune on our Instagrams,” she says.

Warning: Ugly Warning, spoilers!

Identifying these beauty standards was part of Tju's filming process, as her character undergoes a radical transformation towards the end of the film, is caught by government officials and forced to undergo the plastic surgery. Tju says that nitpicking her own appearance with the film crew and deciding which features should be changed to make her more socially attractive was “upsetting,” but ultimately served a greater purpose.

“I basically had a completely different body. I wore a push-up bra with cut-outs, and then we gave me a silicone butt and sewed me into the dress every day,” says Tju, adding that a wig, several hours in the makeup chair and CGI contributed to the transformation. “I didn't feel comfortable in that outfit. And I just like the previous version of Shay much better.”

Representing this “dramatic” transformation on screen was sometimes difficult for Tju, but the Light as a feather The actress says she hopes it will make viewers understand that people in this society have a choice and should think critically about why they want to change their appearance.

“This film is not condemning plastic surgery, it's just saying you have a choice. You don't have to follow these beauty standards to be valuable,” says Tju. “I think the greatest freedom we can have is fighting for self-worth and autonomy for each other.”

Tju criticizes the 2022 overturning of the Roe v. Wade ruling, which rolled back federal protections for abortion rights, and says work on Ugly She was confirmed in her belief that power over her own body could not be more important.

“Sometimes we are seen as objects that are malleable and changeable, but it is our individuality and our self-love that gives us power,” she says. “The factor of female friendship in Ugly is also really important. Tally and Shay have really shown each other that they are lovable, valuable and capable just the way they are.”

Ugly is now streaming on Netflix.