Hunter Schafer was born on December 31, 1998, in Trenton, New Jersey, United States. She is an American actress, model, visual artist, director, and LGBTQ rights advocate. She is known for portraying Jules Vaughn in the HBO television series Euphoria (2019–2026). Her film appearances include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Cuckoo (2024), Kinds of Kindness (2024), and Mother Mary (2026). Before becoming an actress, she worked in the fashion industry and collaborated with brands including Prada, Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, and Shiseido. In 2016, she participated as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's House Bill 2, legislation that restricted transgender people's access to public facilities.

Early Life and Family

Hunter Schafer was born on December 31, 1998, in Trenton, New Jersey. Her father, Mac Schafer, is a Presbyterian minister, and her mother, Katy Schafer, has worked in children's and family ministries. She has three younger siblings, two sisters and a brother.

Because of her father's work, the family lived in New Jersey and Arizona before settling in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Schafer spent much of her childhood.

Hunter Schafer is a transgender woman. She was assigned male at birth and began her gender transition during her high school years. She has spoken publicly about her childhood experiences, gender identity, and the support she received from her family.

Education and Interest in Visual Arts

Hunter Schafer developed an interest in drawing and character design during childhood. She created illustrations, comics, and clothing designs and initially intended to pursue a career in visual arts.

During her teenage years, she attended the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her studies included drawing, character design, and other visual art disciplines.

She graduated in 2017. She had applied to Central Saint Martins in London to study fashion design but postponed university enrollment to pursue professional modeling opportunities.

Her subsequent casting in Euphoria led her to develop an acting career while continuing her interest in drawing and illustration.

In a 2019 interview with Vogue, Schafer explained that she had been drawing since childhood and had used visual art as a means of personal expression. She also discussed her growing interest in acting after joining the cast of Euphoria.

Modeling Career

Hunter Schafer began her professional modeling career in 2017. She worked with the New York-based agency Elite Model Management and appeared in runway shows during New York Fashion Week.

Her early modeling assignments included runway appearances for Versus Versace, Helmut Lang, and R13 Denim. She subsequently worked with fashion houses and brands including Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Maison Margiela, Mugler, and Rick Owens.

She participated in fashion editorials and photographic projects for publications including Vogue and i-D. Alongside her modeling work, she continued producing drawings and illustrations, particularly those involving fashion, character development, and personal identity.

In 2020, Schafer became a global makeup ambassador for the Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido. She appeared in the company's promotional campaigns and discussed the relationship between makeup, painting, and visual composition.

She also collaborated with the Italian fashion house Prada and appeared in several of its advertising campaigns. Her modeling activities continued after she began working in television and film.

In 2022, she was included in the BoF 500 list published by The Business of Fashion, which profiles designers, models, executives, and other professionals working in the fashion industry.

Acting Career

Euphoria (2019–2026)

Hunter Schafer made her professional acting debut in 2019 in the HBO television series Euphoria, created and written by Sam Levinson. She portrayed Jules Vaughn, a transgender teenage girl who moves to a new town and develops friendships and relationships with other students.

The series premiered on June 16, 2019. It follows American high school students dealing with family relationships, friendships, substance use, sexuality, and questions of identity.

The central character, Rue Bennett, is portrayed by Zendaya. The friendship and romantic relationship between Rue and Jules became a major part of the series' storyline.

Schafer worked alongside Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Eric Dane, and Angus Cloud, among other cast members.

Having no previous professional acting experience, Schafer worked with Sam Levinson to develop Jules's personal history and characterization. She also contributed ideas concerning the character's appearance, clothing, and makeup.

Following the first season in 2019, Euphoria returned for its second season on January 9, 2022. Schafer continued portraying Jules Vaughn.

Euphoria Special Episode and Screenwriting

Between the first and second seasons of Euphoria, Hunter Schafer co-wrote a special episode centered on Jules Vaughn with series creator Sam Levinson.

The episode, titled F*ck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob, was released on HBO Max on January 22, 2021, followed by its television broadcast on January 24, 2021.

It explores Jules's earlier experiences, family relationships, friendship with Rue, and reflections on her identity.

Schafer served as the episode's lead performer, co-writer, and co-executive producer. Sam Levinson directed the episode, which was produced under filming restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Euphoria Season Three

Hunter Schafer returned as Jules Vaughn for the third season of Euphoria, which premiered on HBO on April 12, 2026.

The eight-episode season featured returning cast members Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow.

The storyline moved beyond the characters' high school years, following their lives as adults. Schafer continued portraying Jules, a role she had first played in 2019.

The third season concluded on May 31, 2026, and HBO subsequently confirmed that the series had ended.

Film Career

Belle (2021)

Hunter Schafer joined the English-language voice cast of Belle, a Japanese animated film directed by Mamoru Hosoda and originally released in 2021.

She voiced Ruka Watanabe in the English-language version, which received a theatrical release in the United States in January 2022.

The film follows a teenage girl who becomes a popular singer in a virtual world under the name Belle. Schafer's participation was among her first voice-acting projects in feature films.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

In 2023, Hunter Schafer portrayed Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, directed by Francis Lawrence.

The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins and is set approximately 64 years before the events depicted in the original The Hunger Games films.

Schafer's character, Tigris Snow, is the cousin of Coriolanus Snow, portrayed by Tom Blyth. The cast also included Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, and Jason Schwartzman.

The film was released in theaters on November 17, 2023. It was one of Schafer's first major roles in a widely distributed feature film.

Cuckoo (2024)

Hunter Schafer starred in Cuckoo, a horror film written and directed by German filmmaker Tilman Singer.

She portrayed Gretchen, a 17-year-old American teenager who moves with her father and his new family to a resort in the German Alps, where she begins experiencing unexplained and disturbing events.

The supporting cast included Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csokas, and Jan Bluthardt.

The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 and was released in United States theaters on August 9, 2024.

Her performance as Gretchen marked her first leading role in a feature-length live-action film.

Kinds of Kindness (2024)

In 2024, Hunter Schafer appeared as Anna in Kinds of Kindness, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

The film consists of three separate stories and was written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou.

Its ensemble cast included Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Joe Alwyn.

The film premiered in the main competition section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. Schafer appeared in the film's third story.

Mother Mary (2026)

Hunter Schafer portrayed Hilda in the 2026 musical psychological thriller Mother Mary, written and directed by David Lowery.

The film follows a pop singer preparing to revive her career and her reunion with a fashion designer with whom she had previously worked.

Anne Hathaway portrayed the singer Mother Mary, while Michaela Coel played the designer Sam Anselm. The cast also included FKA Twigs and Kaia Gerber.

Distributed by A24, the film opened in United States theaters on April 17, 2026.

Upcoming Film and Television Projects

Hunter Schafer joined the cast of Blade Runner 2099, a science-fiction miniseries developed by Amazon MGM Studios and Alcon Entertainment. She was cast as Cora.

The series takes place within the fictional universe established by Blade Runner (1982), directed by Ridley Scott, and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), directed by Denis Villeneuve. Its principal cast includes Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer.

Schafer was also cast as Christina in Cry to Heaven, directed by fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford. The film is adapted from the novel by Anne Rice.

She was additionally attached to the film Palette, portraying a character named Dolly. Release schedules for these projects had not been conclusively established as of November 2026.

Directing and Visual Art

Alongside acting and modeling, Hunter Schafer has continued working with drawing, illustration, and music video direction.

During her teenage years, she produced illustrations for the online publication Rookie. Her work included drawings, comics, and other visual projects exploring clothing, characters, and personal expression.

In 2022, she directed the music video for Hornylovesickmess, a song by Norwegian musician Marie Ulven, professionally known as Girl in Red.

In 2023, she directed the music video for Why Am I Alive Now? by Anohni and Anohni and the Johnsons.

During her work with Shiseido in 2020, Schafer discussed applying methods she had learned through painting and illustration to makeup, particularly the use of color and composition.

LGBTQ Rights Advocacy

Hunter Schafer became involved in LGBTQ rights advocacy during her high school years, particularly in campaigns opposing discrimination against transgender people in North Carolina.

In 2016, she was among the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina's House Bill 2 (HB2). The legislation contained provisions requiring the use of certain public restrooms and changing facilities according to the sex listed on a person's birth certificate.

Schafer participated in legal action supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other civil rights organizations. She spoke publicly about how the legislation affected transgender students.

She also supported the Arts Not Parts campaign, which used posters and visual artworks to oppose discrimination against transgender people.

In 2017, she was included in Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21 list, which recognized young people involved in cultural, political, and social activities.

In 2020, she appeared on a list recognizing LGBTQ figures published by Queerty. In 2021, she was selected for TIME100 Next, published by Time.

Family and Personal Life

Hunter Schafer's father, Mac Schafer, is a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Her mother, Katy Schafer, has worked in church-based programs for children and families.

Both parents publicly supported Schafer's participation in the 2016 legal challenge against North Carolina's HB2 legislation. They also participated in discussions and campaigns concerning transgender rights.

Schafer grew up in North Carolina with her two younger sisters and one younger brother.

In 2022, she began a romantic relationship with musician and actor Dominic Fike, who played Elliot in the second season of Euphoria. Their relationship ended in 2023.

In 2024, Schafer appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast and discussed her relationship with Dominic Fike and her experiences following their separation.

She continues to pursue drawing and other visual art projects alongside acting and modeling. In interviews, she has described visual art as a longstanding part of her personal and professional life.

Filmography

2026 - Mother Mary (Hilda, Feature Film)
2024 - Kinds of Kindness (Anna, Feature Film)
2024 - Cuckoo (Gretchen, Feature Film)
2023 - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Tigris Snow, Feature Film)
2022 - Belle (Ruka Watanabe, English-Language Voice Performance, Animated Film)

Television and Streaming Series

2019–2026 - Euphoria (Jules Vaughn, HBO Television Series)
2021 - Euphoria: F*ck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob (Jules Vaughn, Co-Writer and Co-Executive Producer, Special Episode)
2025 - RuPaul's Drag Race (Herself, Guest Judge)

Projects in Development or Awaiting Release

Blade Runner 2099 (Cora, Science-Fiction Miniseries)
Cry to Heaven (Christina, Feature Film)
Palette (Dolly, Feature Film)

Music Videos Directed

2023 - Why Am I Alive Now? (Anohni and the Johnsons, Music Video Director)
2022 - Hornylovesickmess (Girl in Red, Music Video Director)

Recognition and Selected Lists

2021 - TIME100 Next (Selected by Time Magazine)
2020 - Queerty LGBTQ Heroes List (Among 50 Individuals Recognized)
2017 - Teen Vogue 21 Under 21 (Selected Among 21 Individuals Under Age 21)

Source: Biyografiler.com