'Yellowjackets' Star Feels Boxed Out Of Award Season Because Of Their Gender

Liv Hewson plays Young Vanessa on Yellowjackets, a fantastic role they will likely never be nominated for.

The actor loves playing the spunky, headstrong Yellowjacket character Van Palmer, something she should be awarded for, but Hewson has taken herself out of the race. As long as the categories remain gendered, they have no choice.

Hewson identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. "There's no place for me in the acting categories," Hewson tells Variety. Being lumped into either the male or female category isn't fair to them.

All awards show, like the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards, etc., have Outstanding Actor and Actress categories. "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."

They continued. "It's pretty straightforward and not that loaded. I can't submit myself for this because I have no space.

At one point last year, the young performer was being considered along with Christina Ricci and Melanie Lynskey to be considered for the acting categories. Still, Hewson didn't feel comfortable and opted to be left out.

Conversely, some non-binary performers have decided the award is more important than the gender title and submitted it to the respective categories. Emma D'Arcy of House of Dragon fame is one.

Hewson also pointed out that the best director and cinematographer categories have nothing to do with gender, making a solid case for the acting categories. However, Hewson isn't about to rally outside signs and whatnot.

Instead, she says. "You can keep things as they are right now -- I just won't be participating," Hewson said it is worth looking into. "It's worth talking about. And I gently and respectfully ask that people get their gears turning a little."

Hewson isn't wrong about other award shows. The Grammys and many other music award shows do not gender their categories. The Brit Independent Film Awards decided to go genderless this year and found themselves with the best actor category full of men, and not even a woman was considered.

When they introduced the idea, they were optimistic. "You start to think: 'Why do we have this split? We don't do this in the directing category or any other category. What are the pros or cons?' We looked at the kinds of performances we saw that don't necessarily fit the leading and supporting cast pattern."

According to the New York Times, the Indie Brit Awards are now reviewing that decision, and there is a good chance it could be back to the old ways next year. Hewson saw this fact as somewhat depressing.

"we've all agreed that equality is impossible. And that's sad." Hewson shares the screen with Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Néliesse, Courtney Eaton, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sophie Thatcher. She says it's like a family.

However, she knows that this job requires you to choose your battles. "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."