Hunter Schafer, known for her role as Jules Vaughn in the HBO series Euphoria, has shared details about her gender-affirming surgery in a recent cover story for Elle magazine. The 25-year-old actress confirmed she underwent the procedure in December 2023, speaking about her recovery and the personal journey that led to her decision.
"I had my gender-affirming surgery in December, and I love the result," Schafer told the magazine. She described a quiet recovery period, having rented an apartment where she could rest with the support of friends and family. Her mobility was significantly limited at first. "I think my limit was 150 steps a day, which is practically nothing," she recalled.
An Evolving Perspective on Identity
In the interview, Schafer reflected on how her understanding of her own gender has shifted. For a period, she embraced a more fluid aspect of her identity, seeing power in that ambiguity. "I really wanted to try and come to terms with my body back then because I thought there was something pretty cool and powerful about it," she explained.
However, she described a growing tension between abstract queer theory and the practicalities of navigating the world. While she values queerness for its potential for "possibilities, expansion, and personal growth," she found this ideal needed to align with her lived experience. This led her to a more concrete sense of self, stating clearly in the interview: "I am a woman. I am a girl."
Activism and a Growing Career
Before her breakout role, Schafer was known as a model and an activist. She continues to use her platform to advocate for transgender rights, criticizing legislative efforts in the United States that target the community, such as laws restricting access to public restrooms.
Her acting career has expanded significantly since Euphoria. In 2023, she appeared as Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This year, she has roles in the horror film Cuckoo and Yorgos Lanthimos's Kinds of Kindness, with a part in the upcoming miniseries Blade Runner 2099 also confirmed.
