Yellowjackets’ nonbinary star Liv Hewson will NOT compete for an Emmy Award due to gendered categories: ‘There’s not a place for me’
- Hewson plays Vanessa ‘Van’ Palmer on Showtime’s hit psychological drama
- Australian star, 27, came out as nonbinary at 16 and uses ‘they/them’ pronouns
- Showtime had planned to submit Hewson for supporting drama actress along with other castmates including Christina Ricci
Nonbinary actor Liv Hewson, who uses ‘they/them’ pronouns, will not be submitting themselves for Primetime Emmy Awards due to the gendered acting categories.
The performer is eligible for consideration for their role as Vanessa ‘Van’ Palmer on Showtime’s hit psychological drama, Yellowjackets, which earned seven nominations last year.
‘There’s not a place for me in the acting categories,’ the Australian actor, best known for starring as Abby Hammond in the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet from 2017 to 2019, told of Variety of their decision.
The 27-year-old performer, who came out as nonbinary at age 16, went on to explain that ‘it would be inaccurate for me to submit myself as an actress’ or ‘be lumped in with the boys.’
‘It’s quite straightforward and not that loaded. I can’t submit myself for this because there’s no space for me,’ Hewson insisted.
Making a statement: Nonbinary actor Liv Hewson, who uses ‘they/them’ pronouns, will not be submitting themselves for Primetime Emmy Awards due to the gendered acting categories (seen in February)
Breakout role: The performer is eligible for consideration for their role as Vanessa ‘Van’ Palmer on Showtime’s hit psychological drama, Yellowjackets, which earned seven nominations last year (seen in season one, which aired in 2021)
While they may be a long shot for a nomination this season, the outlet revealed in March that their name was among the few that Showtime planned to submit for supporting drama actress.
Their castmates Christina Ricci, Savoy Brown, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher and Courtney Eaton were also reportedly going to be submitted for the same category.
This year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards condensed their acting categories into just best lead and supporting performance categories, with Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan winning, respectively, for Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Other award shows have proposed giving genderless prizes to the top two winners in lead and supporting categories, in the hopes that at least one woman will win in each, though that wouldn’t be guaranteed.
The topic of introducing gender neutral categories has becoming more common over the years, following a push from A-list celebrities, like Jamie Lee Curtis, whose daughter Ruby came out as transgender to her in 2020, and Emma Corrin.
Last month, Curtis reignited calls to consider using genderless categories after she won an Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards.
‘Obviously I would like to see a lot more women be nominated so that there’s gender parity in all the areas and all the branches, and I think we’re getting there,’ she told People, though she noted that there was still a long way to go.
She continued: ‘We’re not anywhere near there. And of course, the inclusivity then that involves the bigger question, which is, how do you include everyone when there are binary choices, which is very difficult.’
‘There’s not a place for me in the acting categories,’ the Australian actor, best known for starring as Abby Hammond in the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet from 2017 to 2019, told of Variety of their decision
Frustrating: The 27-year-old performer, who came non-binary at age 16, went on to explain that ‘tt would be inaccurate for me to submit myself as an actress’ or ‘be lumped in with the boys’
‘As the mother of a trans daughter I completely understand that,’ she said, referencing Ruby, who married her partner with the True Lies star officiating in 2022.
However, she noted that removing gender from the acting categories could have the unintended effect of significantly cutting down on women winners, as voters might be more likely to consolidate around men.
‘And yet, to de-gender the category, also, I’m concerned [that] will diminish the opportunities for more women, which is something I also have been working hard to try to promote. So it’s a complicated question, but I think the most important thing is inclusivity and more women.’
In November, Corrin, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them, stated that most award shows aren’t ‘inclusive enough’ and said the change they hope for, would enable everyone to feel ‘acknowledged and represented.’
Corrin said better representation within roles in the entertainment industry is needed to encourage ‘an urgency’ around addressing the subject.
In 2022, Emma won a Golden Globe award for best actress for their performance as Princess Diana in series four of the hit Netflix drama.
Speaking to the BBC’s Today Programme about the possibility of gender neutral categories at major awards shows, Emma said: ‘I hope for a future in which that happens.
An ally: In March, Curtis reignited calls to consider using genderless categories after she won an Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards; seen in last month
Pushing for change: In November, Corrin, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them, stated that most award shows aren’t ‘inclusive enough’ (pictured in 2022)
‘I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment. It’s about everyone being able to feel acknowledged and represented.’
The Crown star asked: ‘When it comes to categories, do we need to make it specific as to whether you’re being nominated for a female role or a male role?
‘You can discuss awards and the representation there, but really the conversation needs to be about having more representation in the material itself, in the content that we are seeing for non-binary people, for queer people, for trans people, because then I think that will change a lot.
‘When those parts come up, meaning more people and more actors are playing those roles then I think there will be more of an urgency with which these questions will be addressed.’
Emma has identified as non-binary publicly since 2021, and has shared their journey with their gender identity publicly on social media.
The thespian told The Today Programme: ‘Your gender identity is so much to do with how you feel and it ties into so much of how you want to be seen or are seen by people and that can be very triggering or can make you uncomfortable if you don’t feel you are being seen honestly or correctly.
”I think that it was necessary for me to be open and honest about it because otherwise I would have felt I was being perceived wrongly.’
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