Liv Hewson, with a sly wit, magnetic presence, and the uncanny ability to balance heartbreak and humor, this Australian powerhouse has quietly built one of the most intriguing résumés in Hollywood. Whether they're dealing with zombie moms in Santa Clarita Diet or surviving cannibalism and teenage hormones in Yellowjackets, Liv brings a kind of rawness and authenticity to each role that's impossible to fake.
From indie gems to binge-worthy series, Hewson's performances are fearless, funny, and often a little bit feral in the best way possible. They are the kind of actor who can make you laugh and cry in the same scene, sometimes in the same breath. With that, let's dive into the unforgettable world of Liv Hewson, with 10 phenomenal movies and TV shows you need to add to your watchlist today!
Yellowjackets (2021)

Category: TV Series
When Yellowjackets first aired on Primetime in 2021, it wasn’t just going to be another survival drama. Set against the eerie backdrop of the 1990s wilderness and the present day, the series explores what happens when a New Jersey high school girls' soccer team’s plane crashes deep in the remote Canadian forest. Several months later, the survivors are still grappling with what they did to make it out alive after slowly having lost their sanity in the isolation. Liv Hewson plays the teenage version of Vanessa “Van” Palmer, an exuberant, tough-as-nails player whose fiery spirit lights up the screen. Van is the goalkeeper of the Yellowjackets soccer team, and isn’t just there to be the comic relief to the group.
She’s heart, grit, and survival all rolled into one. Hewson’s portrayal brims with authenticity, particularly as Van navigates a tender and groundbreaking romance with Taissa Turner, adding depth and vulnerability to their character. However, their relationship sours when Van starts to embrace Lottie's superstitious beliefs in the mysterious forces of life. Liv’s Van is fiercely loyal, even when life turns into a blood-stained nightmare. And in a show packed with powerhouse performances from Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress, Hewson flawlessly manages to hold their own with impeccable ease. You can almost feel Van’s unwavering optimism shatter and heal again, episode by episode.
Bombshell (2019)

Category: Movie
Going from survival teen drama to real-world media nightmares, Liv Hewson stars in a side role in the hit movie Bombshell. Based on a true event, the plot navigates the distressing case of the s*xual harassment scandal that shook Fox News, inevitably leading to the undoing of its powerful CEO, Roger Ailes. In a motion picture featuring A-list celebrities of Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie, Liv Hewson portrays Lily Balin, one of the many starry-eyed Tween Junior employees, with a vivid imagination, who gets trapped in the corporate drudgery, which is said to be the heart of America.
Although Lily's screen time is brief compared to the big names in this movie, Hewson’s portrayal of a junior employee walking the tightrope of ambition and self-preservation feels heartbreakingly real. Their performance adds texture to the movie’s larger portrait of systemic exploitation, reminding viewers that the battle lines in these wars are often invisible, and gut-wrenchingly close to home.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017)

Category: TV Series
Before Yellowjackets introduced us to cannibalistic survival, Santa Clarita Diet served up flesh-eating with its very own comedic twist, and Liv Hewson was brilliant in it. The Netflix horror comedy stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, a suburban realtor who, after a very peculiar illness, turns into an undead being with a craving for human flesh. Timothy Olyphant plays her hilariously overwhelmed husband, Joel, and together, they attempt to maintain their All-American lives while secretly dismembering people in their garage.
Enter Liv Hewson as Abby Hammond, their smart, cynical daughter. With perfect comedic timing and a permanently raised eyebrow, Abby is the show's rebellious heart. Hewson holds their own against comedic heavyweights Barrymore and Olyphant, often stealing scenes with an effortless combination of sarcasm and genuine pathos. Abby isn’t just there for quips, and is constantly grappling with the existential horror of adolescence amplified by literal death and dismemberment. Sadly, Santa Clarita Diet was canceled after three glorious seasons, but Abby and Liv’s unforgettable performance remains unforgettable.
Let It Snow (2019)

Category: Movie
Let It Snow, Netflix’s charming teen ensemble film, features Liv Hewson as the lovable, quietly rebellious Dorrie. Based on the bestselling novel by the same name, Let It Snow weaves together several interconnected stories that occur simultaneously on Christmas Eve. Dorrie's arc stands out not just for its sweetness but for its significance. As a queer teenager grappling with love, heartbreak, and the fear of being truly seen, Hewson plays Dorrie with much warmth, and an endearing sense of vulnerability, that you can’t help but root for her.
As she works a hectic shift at Waffle Town, Dorrie anxiously hopes for a sign from her crush, the radiant and closeted cheerleader Kerry. What’s brilliant about Hewson’s performance is how naturally they balance humor and heartache. Between clever one-liners slung over greasy plates of waffles and moments of emotional connections, Dorrie becomes the beating heart of the film’s message, that love is messy and complicated, but worth fighting for. Let It Snow may be packed with many feel-good holiday moments, but it’s Hewson’s charming and hopeful portrayal of Dorrie that truly makes it sparkle.
Scarygirl (2024)

Category: Movie
In a departure from their earlier live-action work, Liv Hewson dabbles in voice acting in the animated feature film, Scarygirl. The story follows Arkie, a young girl, blind in one eye and with a tentacle for an arm, who must journey from her home in a forest to a dazzling city to save her father from a sinister scientist. The world is whimsical yet dark, packed with eye-popping colors and eerie, dreamlike landscapes. Liv Hewson voiced the character Bug Eye, a two-headed figure who was once a member of high society but is now without a home and penniless.
The sheer talent Hewson showed in voicing the two heads of this fictional character, giving distinct personalities and quirks to both, shows her skill and dedication as an actor. Bug Eye and Arkie form a bond through shared experiences and mutual support, with the former being a true friend and companion in their journey to find Arkie's father. While Scarygirl is animated, Hewson’s voice acting is vivid, whimsical, and filled with all the nuances that make their live-action work so compelling. It’s yet another testament to the range and imagination they bring to every role.
Inhumans (2017)

Category: TV Series
Before becoming apposite with indie movies and gritty TV dramas, Liv Hewson made a memorable cameo appearance in Marvel's Inhumans. It was a brief but ambitious series based on the Marvel Universe. Hewson was cast as Audrey, a human animal vet who falls into trouble when members of the Inhuman Royal Family, among them Black Bolt (Anson Mount) and Medusa (Serinda Swan), are left stranded on Earth.
Despite the widespread negative reviews Inhumans garnered from its incoherent narrative and uninspired visuals, Hewson's gritty, earthy, and intensely empathetic performance rescued the show for so many. As Audrey, they added some much-needed humanity to a narrative otherwise full of intergalactic politics and superhuman abilities. With one particularly striking moment, when Audrey cares for the injured Gorgon (Eme Ikwuakor), Hewson's understated sincerity pierces the static. If you are a Hewson supporter, you will want to watch Inhumans just to see them bring some life into an otherwise thinly drawn role.
Before I Fall (2017)

Category: Movie
The film Before I Fall, follows Sam (Zoey Deutch), a popular high school girl, who finds herself trapped in a time loop, reliving the same tragic day, the day she 'died' to be specific, over and over again, and forced to rethink everything about her life and friendships. Liv Hewson, even though playing a smaller part, once again proves that even as a side character, they can make an unforgettable impression. Hewson plays Anna Cartullo, the school outcast and frequent target of cruel bullying by Samantha and her friends.
Anna is initially seen through the girls’ mocking, shallow lens, but as Sam’s perspective evolves, so does the audience’s understanding of Anna's quiet tragedy. Hewson infuses Anna's character with a damaged sense of resilience that lingers on, even after the credits roll. It’s not a gaudy performance, but a deeply felt one, layered with pain, anger, and flashes of vulnerability that hint at a whole world hidden behind Anna’s guarded eyes. Before I Fall is a meditation on empathy and redemption, and thanks to Hewson’s strong portrayal, Anna Cartullo becomes one of the story’s most powerful catalysts, inspiring change.
Puzzle (2018)

Category: Movie
Puzzle is a moving indie drama, directed by Marc Turtletaub, and centers on Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), a suburban mother who discovers a passion for competitive jigsaw puzzles. Liv Hewson plays Nicki, girlfriend to Agnes’s disillusioned teenage son Gabe. Though a minor character, Nicki represents a world outside Agnes' confined domestic existence. Her support is gentle and noncritical as Nicki leaves room for Agnes to cultivate her interest in jigsaw puzzles and her sense of self. Nicki’s calm demeanor and kindness are in stark contrast to the oppressive environment Agnes has to deal with at home.
The film captures the power of friendship and external influence as it chronicles personal development through the few interactions that Nicki has with Agnes. Hewson’s subtle performance lends a sense of underlying optimism to the otherwise troubled identity development of Agnes. While it may seem puzzling to suggest that Puzzle marks a departure from conventional star vehicles, it certainly stands out with regard to the evolving mosaic of Hewson’s work, as it captures the delicate, mature, and deeply touching.
Dramaworld (2016)

Category: TV Series
What happens when an American K-drama superfan falls into her favorite show? That’s the brilliant premise of Dramaworld, the genre-bending series where Liv Hewson first truly showed off their comic chops and international appeal. Liv plays the character of a college student and part-time sandwich maker, Claire Duncan. A girl who dreams of a life more happening than her present mundane existence. Her wish is granted, however, when she’s magically transported into her beloved world of Korean dramas.
There, she interacts with her favorite heartthrobs like Joon Park (Sean Dulake) and tries hard not to derail the intricate plots of the shows she knows by heart. Claire is awkward, excitable, and completely out of her depth, and Hewson plays her with such infectious energy that you can't help but root for her. Dramaworld is pure, meta, genre-loving fun, and Hewson's performance is its beating heart. If you love seeing Hewson in more playful, fish-out-of-water roles, this is an absolute must-watch.
Under My Skin (2020)

Category: Movie
Few films showcase Liv Hewson’s daring spirit as beautifully as Under My Skin. Directed by David O’Donnell, this indie drama is a lyrical exploration of gender identity, told through the life of Denny, a free-spirited musician navigating their gender identity. In a groundbreaking creative choice, Denny is played by four different actors, including Hewson, at different stages of their self-realization and phases of life.
The other actors, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Lex Ryan, and Kylo Freeman, each take turns embodying Denny as their inner world changes. But Hewson anchors the film’s early stages, setting a soulful, searching tone that ripples through the entire story. Hewson’s performance is soft but unsparing and full of small gestures, fleeting glances, and heavy silences that say more than dialogue ever could. Under My Skin is not just a film, but a symphony of self-discovery, and Hewson’s depiction of this complex character is nothing short of breathtaking.
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