Hunter Schafer Explained: Why She Is Way More Than Just a Euphoria Star

Honestly, if you only know Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn from Euphoria, you’re basically missing three-quarters of the story. She’s everywhere right now. One minute she’s fronting a Prada campaign, and the next she’s running through the woods covered in fake blood for a weird A24-style horror flick.

She’s a shape-shifter.

Most people see the ethereal, almost alien-like beauty and assume she’s just another "it girl" who got lucky with a hit HBO show. But the reality is way more interesting. Before she ever stepped onto a film set, she was a high-fashion model and a literal teenager taking on the U.S. government. Seriously.

Hunter Schafer: From North Carolina to Global Icon

Hunter was born in New Jersey but grew up mostly in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her dad, Mac Schafer, is a Presbyterian minister. You might think that sounds like a rigid environment, but her family has actually been her biggest support system.

When she was 17, she became one of the faces of the fight against North Carolina’s "bathroom bill" (HB2). This was a piece of legislation that tried to force transgender people to use restrooms that matched their birth certificates. Hunter wasn’t just a bystander; she was a plaintiff in the ACLU’s lawsuit. She was literally standing in front of cameras at 17, explaining her existence to a country that wasn't always listening.

That’s some heavy lifting for a teenager.

It sorta explains why she has such a grounded vibe even when she's wearing $5,000 outfits. She’s seen the "real" world—the one with legal briefs and protests—long before the world of red carpets and glam squads.

The Modeling Years and the "Alien" Aesthetic

Before acting, Hunter was a force in the fashion world. She moved to New York after high school and immediately started booking the big stuff. We're talking Dior, Miu Miu, Rick Owens, and Maison Margiela.

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• Height: 5'10"
• Signature Look: Bleached brows, sharp features, and a vibe that designers call "ethereal."
• Ambassador Roles: She’s the global face of Shiseido and has a long-term partnership with Prada.

Interestingly, she was actually planning to study fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London. She wanted to make the clothes, not just wear them. But then Euphoria happened, and well, plans changed.

That Breakout Role in Euphoria

Let's talk about Jules. When Euphoria dropped in 2019, it changed everything. Hunter hadn't even acted before. Not even a school play. But she brought this raw, vibrating energy to Jules Vaughn that made the character feel like a real human being instead of a "trans trope."

You've probably seen "the special episode." You know, the one where Jules is just sitting in a therapy office for an hour? Hunter didn't just act in that; she co-wrote it with Sam Levinson. She wanted to make sure Jules’ experience with gender and femininity felt authentic, not just something written by a cis man. It’s arguably one of the best hours of television in the last decade.

But here’s the thing: Hunter is kinda over being "the trans actress."

She’s been very vocal lately about wanting to just be an actress. Period. She’s turned down dozens of roles that were focused solely on her transition because she wants to play characters where their gender isn’t the entire plot. She wants to be a girl in a movie, not a "trans girl" in a movie. And honestly? She’s pulling it off.

What’s Next for Hunter Schafer in 2026?

If you thought she was slowing down after The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (where she played Tigris Snow), you're wrong. 2026 is shaping up to be her biggest year yet.

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First off, there’s the elephant in the room: Euphoria Season 3. After a million delays, it's finally happening. But she’s also branching out into big-budget sci-fi. She’s starring in Blade Runner 2099 for Amazon Prime Video alongside Michelle Yeoh. That’s a massive jump into the mainstream.

Then there’s the weird, cool stuff. She’s working with Tom Ford on a period drama called Cry to Heaven. She’s also got a role in a horror video game called OD which is being made by Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele. That is a wild trio.

A Quick Cheat Sheet of Her Recent and Upcoming Work:

1. Cuckoo (2024): A trippy horror movie set in the German Alps. She plays Gretchen, and yes, it’s as weird as it sounds.
2. Kinds of Kindness (2024): She worked with Yorgos Lanthimos (the guy who did Poor Things).
3. Mother Mary: An A24 film starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel.
4. Blade Runner 2099: The big sci-fi series coming in 2026.

Why She Matters

Hunter Schafer is one of those rare celebrities who actually feels like a person. She posts her drawings on Instagram (she’s a legit talented illustrator), she’s open about her past relationships—like that five-month romance with Rosalía back in 2019 that everyone went crazy over—and she doesn't pretend to have it all figured out.

She’s basically the blueprint for the modern movie star. She doesn't fit in a box. She’s a model, an actor, a writer, and an activist, but she doesn't let any of those labels define her entire life.

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If you want to keep up with her, your best bet is following her work rather than the tabloids. She’s picky about her roles, which usually means whatever she’s in is going to be worth watching.

Next Steps to Follow Her Career:

• Check out the horror film Cuckoo if you want to see her range outside of Jules.
• Look for the release of Blade Runner 2099 on Prime Video later this year.
• Keep an eye on Prada’s seasonal campaigns; she’s usually the centerpiece.