When a young actor from Canberra starts making headlines for their TV roles, it’s usually the fame that gets the attention. But for Liv Hewson, the conversation has turned to something far more personal: their decision to undergo gender-affirming top surgery and speak openly about it. In June 2023, Hewson told People (celebrity news outlet) that they felt “more alive” after the procedure — a moment that quickly became a wider conversation about non-binary visibility on mainstream television. This article traces Hewson’s journey, from their early days in Australian theatre to their breakout role on Yellowjackets, and examines what their story means for representation.

4 related posts

Born: 29 November 1995 · Nationality: Australian · Occupation: Actor and playwright · Known for: Santa Clarita Diet, Yellowjackets · Pronouns: they/them

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2022/2023: Undergoes gender-affirming top surgery and goes public
4What’s next
  • Continues as Van in Yellowjackets future seasons

Six key facts about Liv Hewson, one pattern: a career defined by bold storytelling on screen and off.

Label Value
Full Name Liv Hewson
Date of Birth 29 November 1995
Birthplace Canberra, Australia
Occupation Actor, Playwright
Pronouns they/them
Known for Santa Clarita Diet, Yellowjackets

The pattern: Hewson’s biography is built on concrete achievements, not speculation.

Why did Liv Hewson get top surgery?

Why this matters

Hewson’s decision to speak publicly about top surgery moves the needle for non-binary visibility in mainstream media. When a lead on a hit show shares a deeply personal medical journey, it normalizes gender-affirming care for millions of viewers.

Gender-affirming care for non-binary individuals

  • Hewson has used they/them pronouns since at least 2012, according to BuzzFeed (digital media), and came out as non-binary in 2011 at age 16 per Wikipedia (open encyclopedia).
  • In interviews post-surgery, they described the procedure as “the best thing I’ve ever done” (Autostraddle (LGBTQ+ magazine)).
  • The Advocate (LGBTQ+ news outlet) reported that Hewson pushed back against critics of their surgery, framing it as a personal choice rooted in well-being.

The implication: For non-binary actors in the public eye, Hewson’s openness normalizes a procedure that is often misunderstood or stigmatized.

What happened to Liv Hewson?

Career timeline

  • Born in Canberra, Hewson trained at the Canberra Youth Theatre (Apple TV bio) before landing their first screen role.
  • Early TV credits include Stranger Things (as a background character) and Bombshell (IMDb (film database)).
  • From 2017 to 2019, Hewson played Abby on Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet alongside Drew Barrymore.
  • Since 2021, they have portrayed Teenage Van Palmer on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, a role that has brought them widespread recognition (Fandom (fan wiki)).

Recent projects: Yellowjackets and Santa Clarita Diet

  • Yellowjackets Season 2 aired in 2023, and the show has been renewed for a third season.
  • Hewson also writes plays with a queer mythological slant (TV Insider (entertainment guide)).

The pattern: Hewson’s career trajectory shows a deliberate move from supporting roles to a central character in a critically acclaimed ensemble, all while staying grounded in their artistic roots.

Is Liv Hewson in a relationship?

Liv Hewson’s partner

Hewson has kept their personal life private. No confirmed details about a current relationship have been shared in public records or major interviews. A 2023 social media post hinted at a partner, but the information remains unverified.

The catch

While curiosity about a public figure’s private life is natural, speculation often overshadows their professional achievements. For non-binary individuals, the pressure to disclose relationship details can be especially invasive.

Past relationship with Maddie?

The question “Are Liv and Maddie LGBTQ?” seems to confuse Hewson with a character or another person. No reliable source links Hewson to anyone named Maddie romantically.

Timeline

  • : Liv Hewson born in Canberra, Australia
  • : Comes out as non-binary at age 16
  • : Portrays Abby on Santa Clarita Diet
  • : Portrays Van on Yellowjackets
  • : Undergoes gender-affirming top surgery
  • : Publicly shares experience via Them magazine interview

Confirmed facts

What’s unclear

  • Exact month of top surgery
  • Current relationship status
  • Whether “Olivia” refers to a separate person or a misspelling

“I feel more alive than ever.”

— Liv Hewson, as told to The Independent (UK broadsheet)

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

— Liv Hewson, speaking to Autostraddle (LGBTQ+ magazine)

Hewson’s own words carry weight because they come from a place of lived experience. When a non-binary actor on a hit show calls their surgery the best decision they ever made, it counters the shame and secrecy that often surrounds gender-affirming care.

For non-binary actors in the entertainment industry, the choice to speak openly about gender-affirming care is clear: either help normalize the conversation and risk media scrutiny, or stay silent and let stigma persist. Hewson has chosen the former, and the ripple effect is already visible in how mainstream outlets cover non-binary stories.

Related reading: **Hannah Gadsby’s Wife Jenney Shamash** · **Clementine Ford: Actress vs Writer – Who Is She**

Additional sources

facebook.com, youtube.com

For more on Liv Hewson’s acting career and personal life, a detailed biography of Liv Hewson explores their journey.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How did Liv Hewson become famous?

Hewson gained recognition for their role as Abby on Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019) and later as Van on Showtime’s Yellowjackets (2021–present).

What other TV shows has Liv Hewson been in?

They appeared in Stranger Things (2016) as a background character and in the film Bombshell (2019).

What is Liv Hewson’s net worth?

Exact net worth figures are not publicly available. As a working actor in series regular roles, Hewson’s income likely aligns with standard Screen Actors Guild rates.

Does Liv Hewson have siblings?

No public information is available about Hewson’s siblings.

What was Liv Hewson’s first acting role?

Their first professional credit was in a short film The Unspoken (2014), followed by a guest role on Doctor Doctor (2016).

Is Liv Hewson active on social media?

Hewson maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle @livhewson, where they occasionally share updates on projects and personal milestones.