The Stunning Transformation Of The Madison Star Beau Garrett

As a seasoned actor with many high-profile projects under her belt, it may be hard to believe that "The Madison" star Beau Garrett got her start as a model in the '90s. Not many models have made such a successful transition into acting over the years, but Garrett's deep arsenal of TV and film projects includes everything from ABC's "The Good Doctor" and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" to "Tron: Legacy."

While Garrett has never truly had a "flop era," early in her career, she definitely bought into a few popular beauty trends of the early aughts that people actually found attractive. She might now look back on that time with a few regrets. Even so, that didn't stop her from blossoming. As she grew into an accomplished actor, her red-carpet style, along with her beauty choices, just got better and better as time went on. Her stunning glow-up is on par with Sara Gilbert's complete transformation in the way that she found what really worked for her personality. She already brought a certain level of glamour to the table, coming from the modeling world, but the evolution of her style and beauty choices has been truly stunning.

In the late 1990s as a teenager, Beau Garrett was discovered by Elite Model Management. Her natural beauty drew the eye of a modeling scout while out at a shopping mall and, from there, a star was born. Her first gig was high profile — she starred in GUESS ads as one of their newest faces. While there aren't many photos of Garrett during this era of her life now, a look back at her old modeling campaigns show that she adopted a grungier style when it came to her hair — sporting choppy layers and piecey side bangs. It was most evident in an early ad for clothing brand Double D Ranch. This was a popular look in the late '90s and early 2000s so it's no mystery why she hopped on this trend. She also favored a less-is-more look wearing little to no makeup while out on the red carpet or at events.

Even her clothing choices reflected the fashion trends of the late '90s and early aughts. In 2005, Garrett was seen at Nautica & Details Magazine's Next Big Things Party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California rocking a cardigan, gladiator sandals, and a blue V-neck dress. This look was a true sign of the times.

Garrett told Broadway World in 2019 that she never expected to model. "I wanted to be a journalist and travel all over and be a nomad," she said. "I just didn't realize that the gypsy in me would manifest in a different art form." Garrett also shared in the same interview that this was a challenging era of her life. While she loved getting to travel, she obsessed over her weight and judged herself too harshly.

While Beau Garrett initially got a taste of acting in 2004 when she starred in a music video for the song "Cold" by Crossfade, it wasn't until 2006 that the larger credits started rolling in. It was then that she first appeared on mega-hit TV shows like "Entourage" and made her film debut alongside other stars like Olivia Wilde and Josh Duhamel in the horror movie "Turistas." 

Later in 2010, she was featured in "Tron: Legacy," one of her biggest projects at the time. In 2017, she told People, "I modeled from 14 to 21 or so, that was such a kind of strange and interesting time those years but it wasn't sustainable for me, and acting just kind of naturally happens." Although most find it a tough transition, Garrett said she was already prepared for the nontraditional working hours that come with the business.

It was around then that Garrett started to take a more polished approach to her beauty routine and opted for more sophisticated fashion while attending industry events. Garrett tried out many different looks during this era — from a shoulder length lob to a soft ombré hair color. In 2008, the actor's tousled strands mirrored stars like Taylor Swift's iconic bangs. Fashion-wise, she was seen wearing an elegant silver dress and updo at the "Tron: Legacy" premiere on December 18, 2010 in Dubai. Instead of her usual no-makeup makeup look, she went for a bolder cat eye on the carpet, signaling a departure from her former aughts aesthetic.

The highlight of Beau Garrett's 2012-2020 beauty era was her utilization of a bold lip. It was then that the actor started experimenting with lipstick in vibrant reds and corals. That was also when her career opened up even further. Fresh off a few appearances on "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and "CSI: NY," Garrett landed a starring role on Bravo's "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," which ran from 2014 to 2018, and another on ABC's "The Good Doctor" in 2017. 

Even as her acting career really took off, she stayed down to earth and didn't want her entire world to revolve around acting. She shared in a 2021 interview with NewBeauty, "Having other things in your life that matter is key, mainly because the business is very challenging and it's also very temporary ... You have to really have a sense of self that is strong. It's so important to have something you love and to make sure you always nurture it so it's still there."

Many of her fashion choices echoed that of her character Phoebe on "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce." She began wearing brighter colors and played with soft, flowing fabrics while out and about. This marked a more playful era for the actor where she was seen wearing everything from a braid crown on the carpet to a beautifully styled little black dress at an Entertainment Weekly celebration for the SAG Awards in January 2018. Each look, of course, with a bold lip.

While Beau Garrett continued to act from 2020 to 2023, working on projects like "Firefly Lane," the actor took a bit of a break and her life changed significantly. She moved to Vancouver Island, had a child, and began to question whether acting was right for her anymore. In a March 2026 interview with Elle, she explained, "Living up here, I was like, 'Maybe this is not the world for me anymore ... I hadn't really given up, but I had really kind of lost faith in it and felt very disconnected by way of having a kid, being here, and the business being so different." It's always darkest before the dawn — it was then that she landed her starring role as Abigail on "The Madison."

This triumphant return to the screen marks a modern and elegant era for the actor fashion and beauty-wise. Now a seasoned industry veteran, Garrett leans into sophisticated blazers, like the one she wore in New York to tape "The Drew Barrymore Show" in March 2026. She also favors flattering off-the-shoulder and strapless gowns for red carpets and premieres — most notably, a strapless number she wore to attend the U.K. premiere of "The Madison" in March 2026.

In some ways, she's returned to some of her earlier favorite looks in the sense that she now favors a soft ombré hair color and elegant, shoulder-length lob. Garrett has really found her own personal style, striking the perfect soft, yet glamorous, tone with her looks.