Jules Vaughn’s arc is one of the best parts of Euphoria Season 3 and as the new season drops in with a new narrative for her, there is much to be known about the actress behind this role. At 26, Hunter Schafer has channeled her own fearless journey into one of television’s most groundbreaking characters and as she sees a fresh slate this season, we are sitting down to understand the woman behind the role, and why her impact extends far beyond the screen.
Schafer’s path to stardom didn’t begin on a soundstage. She first came to public attention after joining a 2016 lawsuit against North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which prevented transgender people from using bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. She became the youngest plaintiff in this landmark case, as a high school junior. For her activism, she became one of the people in Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” list in 2017.
Before Euphoria came calling, Schafer was already making waves in the fashion world. Schafer had studied watercolor painting and clothing design, and in 2017, she began work as a fashion model for various brands.
She walked for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses: Calvin Klein, Dior, Helmut Lang, Maison Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Vera Wang, Versace, and Rick Owens. She has expanded her horizons with major film roles, including appearances in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, where she starred alongside Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis.
She had initially planned to attend an arts college to further study clothing design, but instead decided to transition to acting when she was cast in Euphoria.
Why Hunter Schafer’s Jules is one of the most important characters in Euphoria season 3
When Schafer slipped into the role of Jules Vaughn for the show’s 2019 debut, she became a representation of several queer people. Jules Vaughn is a main character on Euphoria and Schafer has said her personal connection to the character was too strong to ignore.
She and creator Sam Levinson worked together to weave elements of her own trans experience into Jules’ narrative, creating a character that resonates and also empowers.
Jules is portrayed as an eclectic, free-spirited, chaotic and kind new girl in town who quickly catches Rue and Nate’s attention. But beneath the colorful aesthetic lies a character dealing with profound struggles. In Euphoria Season 3, we see her as an artist, while also working as a sugar baby as she navigates her own path.
Although she has been basent in the first episode of the show, it only creates all the more excitement to see what Euphoria Season 3 has to offer for Jules.
Euphoria Season 3 is streaming on HBO Max.
Edited by Nibir Konwar