Who plays Natalie in Yellowjackets? Actress’s career and notable projects, explored

Who plays Natalie in Yellowjackets? (Image via Showtime)
Who plays Natalie in Yellowjackets? (Image via Showtime)

Natalie "Nat" Scatorccio is one of the most tragic characters in Showtime’s Yellowjackets. She is a part of the high school soccer team, stuck in the wilderness after their plane crashed in 1996. Meanwhile, Natalie has her battles to fight as she struggles with drug and alcohol abuse.

As the incident continues to affect the girls 25 years later, adult Natalie has some more problems to face, as she deals with a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, continues to be an addict, and has to undergo a rehab program.

Juliette Lewis plays the adult version of Natalie in Yellowjackets. She is an acclimated actress who has received several accolades in her career, including nominations at the Academy and Primetime Emmy Awards.


Juliette Lewis plays Natalie in Yellowjackets

Juliette Lewis was cast as Natalie in Yellowjackets in 2019 and has been seen in the show since its beginning in 2021. Before Yellowjackets, Lewis has been seen in several other television shows and films.

She made her debut as a child actress in the 1980s with minor roles and shot to fame with the TV movie Home Fires in 1987, earning praise from the critics. Her breakout role came in 1991 when she starred in the film Cape Fear as Danielle Bowden.

The performance earned her Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Lewis then kept impressing the audience with films like Husbands and Wives (1992) and Natural Born Killers (1994), in which her role as the murderous Mallory Knox was appreciated by everyone.

In 2003, she ventured into music and started a rock band called Juliette and the Licks. Meanwhile, she kept working on television and appeared in shows like I Married Dora, A Family for Joe, Free for All, The Firm, and Secrets and Lies.

After starring in Yellowjackets, Lewis starred as Judy in the Peacock reboot of Queer as Folk. She has also been seen in the Hulu biographical drama series Welcome to Chippendales, playing Denise Coughlan. Lewis is a voice actress as well, who played Justin in Prime Video’s absurdist comedy miniseries I'm a Virgo.


Juliette Lewis’ Journey in Yellowjackets

Juliette Lewis as Natalie (Image via Showtime)
Juliette Lewis as Natalie (Image via Showtime)

Juliette Lewis has a complicated and layered character to play in Yellowjackets as Natalie. After surviving the plane crash and surviving in the wilderness, Natalie’s life continues to be tough, and Lewis portrays various emotions of the character with perfection.

In high school, Natalie struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and is often judged and harassed by her teammates. She bonds with Travis during their time in the wilderness and they get romantically involved. The two become the best hunters in the group with their skills in using a rifle; however, their bond turns toxic over time.

As an adult, Natalie has an on-and-off relationship with Travis that eventually ends. Her world falls apart after Travis’ death and she contemplates ending her life. Meanwhile, she continues to struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction and finishes rehab.

Natalie then returns to New Jersey but finds it hard to stay sober, especially as she deals with the pain of losing Travis. She then gets obsessed with uncovering the truth about Travis’ death, and that gives her life a purpose.

She reconnects with her old teammates, including Misty, Shauna, and Taissa, as the group faces a series of disturbing events related to their past. However, this leads Natalie toward a tragic fate, which she meets with in the season 2 finale.


Sophie Thatcher plays young Natalie in Yellowjackets

As Yellowjackets takes place across two timelines set 25 years apart, there are two different versions of Natalie in the series. While Juliette Lewis plays the adult version, Sophie Thatcher is seen as the teenage Natalie.

Thatcher started acting when she was just four years old and was trained in musical theater. In 2018, she starred in the film Prospect alongside Pedro Pascal, which shot her to stardom. She has also appeared in the films The Boogeyman in 2023 and Heretic in 2024.

She landed an important role in the Star Wars universe as well, playing the cyborg leader Drash in the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett. Apart from being an actor, Thatcher is a musician who released her first EP, Pivot & Scrape, in 2024.

Yellowjackets returns with its third season on Showtime on February 16, 2025.

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Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma