Liv Hewson is an Australian actor and playwright best known for playing Abby Hammond in the Netflix horror comedy series Santa Clarita Diet, which ran from 2017 to 2019.
They went on to take a major role as Teen Van Palmer in the Showtime survival drama Yellowjackets, a character they played across three seasons from 2021 to 2025.
Liv Hewson Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Olivia Hewson |
| Born | November 29, 1995, Canberra, Australia |
| Age | 30 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession | Actor, Playwright |
| Known For | Santa Clarita Diet, Yellowjackets |
| Pronouns | They/Them |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
Who is Liv Hewson?
Liv Hewson is an Australian non-binary actor and playwright based in Los Angeles.
They built their career across film and television on both sides of the Pacific, starting with short films in Australia and moving into major American streaming productions within a few years.
Their written work focuses on re-imaginings of fairy tales and mythology, with a queer and dark slant.
Hewson came out as non-binary at age 16 and has been open about their gay identity throughout their career, using they/them pronouns publicly.
In 2020, Hewson received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award for their LGBT+ advocacy work.
That recognition came alongside a string of prominent roles that placed them among the most visible non-binary actors working in English-language television.
Their Yellowjackets role as teenage Vanessa “Van” Palmer brought them the widest audience, with the character appearing across all three seasons of the show before Van’s death in the Season 3 penultimate episode in 2025.
Early Life of Liv Hewson
Liv Hewson was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and grew up in the suburb of Hughes.
Their mother Angela is a public servant and their father Tony is a psychologist. Hewson has three brothers.
Growing up, the family watched a lot of American television together, including The Simpsons and Futurama.
Hewson later said that this early diet of American TV made it easy for them to act with an American accent when their career moved in that direction.
Hewson began acting as part of the Canberra Youth Theatre. Their debut play, Bona Mors, explored how children understand and deal with death.
Liv Hewson Age / Birthday
Liv Hewson is 30 years old as of 2026, born on November 29, 1995. Their zodiac sign is Sagittarius, a sign associated with curiosity, directness, and a love of adventure.
Hewson remains active in both acting and playwriting from their base in Los Angeles.
Liv Hewson Ethnicity and Nationality
Liv Hewson is Australian, born and raised in Canberra. Their ethnicity is of Anglo-Australian background.
Their Australian roots and time with the Canberra Youth Theatre shaped their early approach to performance before they relocated to the United States for their professional career.
Liv Hewson Height and Weight
Liv Hewson stands at approximately 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m). Their weight is not publicly confirmed.
They carry a lean build that has suited a range of physical roles across their television work.
Liv Hewson Education
Hewson attended Alfred Deakin High School in Canberra and later studied at Canberra College.
They also trained as part of the Canberra Youth Theatre, where their acting and playwriting skills developed alongside their formal schooling.
In 2014, they travelled to Los Angeles to attend an acting workshop, which marked the start of their move into the American industry.
Liv Hewson Career
Liv Hewson began their on-screen career in 2013 with Australian short films and built steadily toward major international television roles over the following decade.
Their path combined small Australian productions, a breakout Netflix series, and then a long-running Showtime drama.
Early Career and Short Films (2013–2016)
Hewson’s first screen credit came in 2013 with the short film Alfonso Frisk, in which they played Fenny Frisk.
Two further short films followed in 2015: Survey Says, where they played Hillary, and So Romantic, where they played Gurt.
In 2016, they starred in the short film Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go, an adaptation of a This American Life story directed by Julietta Boscolo.
That film earned Boscolo the Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award at the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival.
Also in 2016, Hewson took the lead role of Claire Duncan in Dramaworld, a fantasy web series. They appeared in all 10 episodes of the first season.
That same year, they had a brief appearance in the finale of the Australian crime drama The Code.
Breakthrough and Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019)
In 2017, Hewson made their feature film debut in Before I Fall, playing Anna Cartullo.
That same year, they joined the second series of the BBC drama Top of the Lake, directed by Jane Campion and Garth Davis, in a recurring role as Michaela across three episodes.
Also in 2017, Hewson took a recurring role as Audrey in the Marvel miniseries Inhumans.
Their most significant credit that year, though, was joining Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet as Abby Hammond, the daughter of characters played by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant.
Hewson played Abby as a series regular across all three seasons of Santa Clarita Diet from 2017 to 2019.
The role made them widely known in the United States and established their standing in American television.
In 2018, they appeared in the drama film Puzzle as Nicki, and starred in eight episodes of the Australian comedy Back in Very Small Business as Ashley Piper.
They also appeared in the web series Homecoming Queens as Chloë Reeson.
In 2019, Hewson appeared in the romantic comedy Let It Snow as Dorrie, alongside Kiernan Shipka, Odeya Rush, and Shameik Moore.
They also played Lily in the drama Bombshell, which starred Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie.
Yellowjackets and Recent Work (2020–2026)
In 2020, Hewson appeared in the film Under My Skin as Denny. The following year, they joined the cast of Yellowjackets on Showtime, playing the teenage version of Vanessa “Van” Palmer.
Van began as a recurring role in Season 1 before becoming a main cast member in Season 2.
Hewson returned for Yellowjackets Season 3 in 2025, appearing in all 10 episodes. Van’s character died in the penultimate episode of the season, making Season 3 Hewson’s final full season on the show.
Also in 2021, they reprised their role as Claire Duncan in Dramaworld 2, the second season of the web series. In 2023, they had a guest appearance in a single episode of the comedy Party Down.
In 2025, Hewson starred in He Had It Coming, playing Ivy Shepherd across all 8 episodes of the series, which dropped on streaming in November 2025. They also appeared in the film For Worse as Esther in 2025.
Their most recent credit is Treasure & Dirt (2026), in which they play Nell Buchanan across 6 episodes.
Liv Hewson Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Alfonso Frisk | Fenny Frisk | Short film |
| 2015 | Survey Says | Hillary | Short film |
| 2015 | So Romantic | Gurt | Short film |
| 2016 | Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go | Gloria | Short film |
| 2017 | Before I Fall | Anna Cartullo | Film |
| 2018 | Puzzle | Nicki | Film |
| 2019 | Let It Snow | Dorrie | Film |
| 2019 | Bombshell | Lily | Film |
| 2020 | Under My Skin | Denny | Film |
| 2025 | For Worse | Esther | Film |
Television:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | I’ve Got No Legs | Liv | Guest |
| 2014–2015 | Do You Mind? | Gurt / Matilda / Lana | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Dramaworld | Claire Duncan | Lead, 10 episodes |
| 2017 | Top of the Lake | Michaela | 3 episodes, recurring |
| 2017–2019 | Santa Clarita Diet | Abby Hammond | Series regular |
| 2017 | Inhumans | Audrey | 3 episodes, recurring |
| 2018 | Back in Very Small Business | Ashley Piper | 8 episodes |
| 2021 | Dramaworld 2 | Claire Duncan | Lead, 10 episodes |
| 2021–2025 | Yellowjackets | Teen Van Palmer | Recurring S1; Main S2–S3 |
| 2023 | Party Down | Escapade | 1 episode |
| 2025 | He Had It Coming | Ivy Shepherd | Main cast, 8 episodes |
| 2026 | Treasure & Dirt | Nell Buchanan | 6 episodes |
Liv Hewson Awards and Recognition
Hewson received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in 2020 for their advocacy on behalf of LGBT+ communities.
The award recognised both their public visibility as a non-binary actor and their broader advocacy work.
Their Yellowjackets role earned them wider critical attention, with the show receiving an Emmy nomination as a series.
Hewson participated in promotion and press events for the series including the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024.
Liv Hewson Partner
Liv Hewson has not shared any details about their partner. Hewson keeps their personal life private.
Currently, Liv is only focused on their career.
Liv Hewson Net Worth
Liv Hewson’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026.
Their income comes mainly from television acting, with three seasons of Santa Clarita Diet and three seasons of Yellowjackets forming the core of their earnings over the past decade.
Beyond those flagship series, Hewson has added to their income through film roles, web series appearances, and more recent television projects including He Had It Coming in 2025 and Treasure & Dirt in 2026.
Their playwriting career contributes a separate creative strand to their work, though no public financial figures exist for their writing income.
Liv Hewson Social Media
Hewson maintains a presence on Instagram at @liv.hewson and on Twitter/X at @livhewson. Their Twitter bio has described them as a “gay Australian.”
In recent years, Hewson has said they have pulled back from heavy social media use, preferring to keep more of their personal life private.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Liv Hewson?
Liv Hewson is 30 years old as of 2026. They were born on November 29, 1995, in Canberra, Australia.
What is Liv Hewson known for?
They are best known for playing Abby Hammond in Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix and Teen Van Palmer in Yellowjackets on Showtime.
What are Liv Hewson’s pronouns?
Liv Hewson is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They came out publicly as non-binary at age 16 and have been open about their gay identity throughout their career.
Where is Liv Hewson from?
Hewson was born and raised in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, in the suburb of Hughes.
What is Liv Hewson’s net worth?
Their estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026, built primarily through their television work across Santa Clarita Diet and Yellowjackets.
What has Liv Hewson appeared in recently?
In 2025, Hewson starred in He Had It Coming as Ivy Shepherd and appeared in the film For Worse. In 2026, they appeared in Treasure & Dirt as Nell Buchanan.
Conclusion
Liv Hewson built their career from Canberra Youth Theatre to Netflix and Showtime, becoming one of the most prominent non-binary actors working in English-language television today.
Their roles in Santa Clarita Diet and Yellowjackets gave them a decade of major television work, while their playwriting and advocacy kept them connected to the queer community both on and off screen.