Nonbinary ‘Yellowjackets’ Star Liv Hewson Is Sitting out of Emmy Season Over Gendered Categories

Nonbinary actor Liv Hewson says they will not be submitting themselves for Emmy consideration this season because of the Academy’s gendered categories.

“There’s not a place for me in the acting categories,” Hewson said, per Variety. “It would be inaccurate for me to submit myself as an actress. It neither makes sense for me to be lumped in with the boys.”

Showtime recently revealed which Yellowjackets cast members are campaigning for the Emmys this season, and included Hewson as one of the stars who will vie for the supporting category after a particularly strong performance in Season 2. Hewson has since chosen not to submit themselves.

“It’s quite straightforward and not that loaded. I can’t submit myself for this because there’s no space for me,” the Yellowjackets star said. According to Hewson, their cast mates and the network have been “incredibly supportive” of this decision.

A number of actors have spoken out against gendered categories in awards ceremonies as more actors have come out as nonbinary or gender nonconforming. Nonbinary actors have previously received nominations and awards in these categories, such as Hacks star Carl Clemons-Hopkins — who became the first nonbinary actor to win an Emmy for supporting comedy actor in 2021 — but some still feel that the gendered categories should be abolished as it forces these actors to conform to something they don’t identify with.

“We’re not going to start awarding best female and male director, or female or male cinematographer, because we all understand that implicitly would be insulting,” Hewson said. “You can keep things as they are right now — I just won’t be participating.”

House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy once spoke on how “ironic” it was that they received a Golden Globe nomination for best television actress in January, though they felt “very privileged” by the opportunity.

“It’s kind of a surreal thing because when I was starting out, I really felt that I had to pretend, to present as a woman in order to find success in this industry. Anyway, it wasn’t sustainable, and I stopped pretending, and weirdly, it’s at that point that I got nominated for best actress at the Golden Globes. Which is beautifully ironic,” D’Arcy said. “I think the most important thing is that it implies that the space for trans people and gender-nonconforming people is getting bigger all the time.”

Jamie Lee Curtis also called for more gender inclusivity at awards ceremonies after winning her first Oscar in March for Everything Everywhere All At Once. After pointing out that male nominees dominated unisex categories, the actress asked, “How do you include everyone when there are binary choices? Which is very difficult as the mother of a trans daughter.”

Though Hewson will not be campaigning for an Emmy Award this year, a number of their cast mates are eligible to campaign for the supporting category, including Christina Ricci, newcomer Elijah Wood and Jasmin Savoy Brown.

“It’s worth talking about,” Hewson said. “And I very gently and respectfully ask that people get their gears turning a little.”