Elizabeth Yu Net Worth: Age, Biography & Career

Elizabeth Yu Net Worth: Age, Biography & Career

Some actors step into the spotlight slowly. Elizabeth Yu did it with a role that came with built-in pressure, a massive fanbase, and a character everyone already had strong opinions about.

So, Who Is Elizabeth Yu? She is an American actress best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Before that, she appeared in projects such as Somewhere in Queens and Todd Haynes’ acclaimed film May December. Her career is still young, but her name is already tied to one of Netflix’s most talked-about fantasy series.

Yu has also drawn public interest due to her long-term relationship with Stranger Things actor Gaten D. Matarazzo. However, her acting career is becoming the main reason people are searching for her. With Avatar: The Last Airbender continuing into Season 2, Elizabeth Yu’s profile is only getting bigger.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Elizabeth Yu was born in New Jersey, United States. Several public profiles describe her as being from Mystic Island, New Jersey, though official biographical details about her childhood remain limited.

There is some inconsistency online about her exact birthday. Some profiles list her birth date as October 5, 2002, while others list October 6, 2002. Because the date varies across public sources, it is safest to say she was born in early October 2002 rather than presenting a single date as definitive.

Yu’s cultural background has also attracted interest. Publicly available profiles identify her as an American actress of Asian heritage, and entertainment coverage has discussed her presence as part of broader Asian American representation in film and television. However, she has not built her public image around oversharing private family details, which makes careful wording important.

As for her education, several profiles note that she attended school in New Jersey and developed an interest in acting at a young age. Her early connection to theater and school drama appears to have laid the foundation for her professional acting career.

That background matters, especially because her later roles required confidence, emotional control, and the ability to step into complex characters.

Career Breakthrough

Elizabeth Yu’s major career breakthrough came when she was cast as Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.

For a young actress, Azula is not a small role. In the original animated series, Azula is one of the most intense and psychologically sharp characters in the Avatar universe. She is powerful, strategic, intimidating, and deeply shaped by her family dynamics. Fans already knew the character well, which meant Yu stepped into a role with high expectations.

Her casting instantly put her in front of a global audience.

Yu’s public attention grew even more after Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered in 2024. While the first season introduced Azula earlier and in a slightly different way from the original animated storyline, it gave Yu room to build the character gradually. That early setup created curiosity about how her version of Azula will evolve in future seasons.

Major Works and Achievements

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Elizabeth Yu is best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. The series reimagines Nickelodeon’s beloved animated fantasy story for a new audience, following Aang and his friends as they fight against the Fire Nation.

Azula is central to the Fire Nation storyline. She is the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai, sister of Prince Zuko, and one of the most dangerous young firebenders in the story. For Yu, the role brought instant visibility because Avatar has a loyal fanbase that spans generations.

The role also offers a strong career opportunity. As the show continues, Yu’s version of Azula is expected to become even more important to the story.

May December

Yu also appeared in May December, the 2023 film directed by Todd Haynes and starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. She is credited as Mary Atherton-Yoo in the film.

This project gave her a very different kind of credit from Avatar. Instead of fantasy action, May December is a tense character drama with a sharp emotional tone. Being part of a film associated with respected figures like Todd Haynes, Natalie Portman, and Julianne Moore gave Yu early experience in prestige cinema.

Somewhere in Queens

Yu’s early screen work includes Somewhere in Queens, the 2022 film directed by Ray Romano.

While it was not the role that made her widely known, early projects like this matter because they show the steps leading up to her Netflix breakthrough.

Other Projects

Public filmography listings have also connected Yu with projects such as Year One, Womb, and Black Spines. Some of these credits are less widely covered than Avatar and May December, so they should be treated as developing parts of her resume rather than major mainstream achievements.

What is clear is that Yu is building a career across different genres. She has worked in independent film, prestige drama, and large-scale streaming fantasy. That range is valuable for any young performer.

Personal Life

Elizabeth Yu keeps much of her personal life private, but one detail is widely public. She has been in a long-term relationship with actor Gaten Matarazzo, best known for playing Dustin Henderson in Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Yu and Matarazzo reportedly began dating in March 2018. Both have connections to New Jersey, and their relationship has occasionally been mentioned in entertainment coverage. Even so, Yu does not appear to rely on her relationship for attention. Her acting career is now becoming the central reason people search for her name.

Yu’s public image feels relatively low-key compared with that of many young actors who are heavily active online. She has an Instagram presence under the handle @lizz.yu, and her follower count has grown alongside her acting visibility.

Beyond that, she does not appear to share excessive personal details publicly. That is worth respecting. A good Elizabeth Yu biography should focus on her work, background, and confirmed public information, not rumors or invasive speculation.

Net Worth and Income Sources

Elizabeth Yu’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some celebrity biography websites estimate her net worth at $1 million to $2 million, but official financial records do not support those figures.

Because of that, it would be misleading to present any specific figure as fact. A safer way to frame it is this: Elizabeth Yu likely earns income from acting roles, possible modeling or promotional work, and public entertainment opportunities, but her verified net worth has not been disclosed.

Her main income sources likely include:

• Acting work in television and film
• Streaming projects such as Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Film appearances, including May December
• Possible brand or media opportunities linked to her public profile

As her role in Avatar grows, her earning potential may increase. Still, until she or a credible financial source confirms a figure, “not publicly confirmed” is the most accurate answer for Elizabeth Yu’s net worth.

Fun Facts and Lesser-Known Details

Elizabeth Yu’s career is still developing, but a few interesting details help explain why fans are paying attention.

First, she was cast in Avatar: The Last Airbender before becoming a widely recognized name. That means many viewers discovered her through Azula rather than through a long list of earlier credits.

Second, her role in May December placed her in a serious film environment early in her career. Moving from an acclaimed drama to a major Netflix fantasy series shows that casting teams see flexibility in her work.

Third, Yu’s public relationship with Gaten Matarazzo brought her early attention, but her acting credits have now become the bigger story. That shift matters because it shows she is not simply known through someone else’s fame.

Fourth, Azula is a challenging character for any actor. She is not just a villain. She is controlled, ambitious, wounded, and terrifyingly talented. Playing her well requires more than looking intense on screen.

Why Elizabeth Yu Is Gaining Attention?

Elizabeth Yu is gaining attention because she is attached to one of Netflix’s biggest young fantasy franchises. Avatar: The Last Airbender already had a passionate fanbase before the live-action version premiered, and every casting choice was watched closely.

Yu’s role as Azula puts her at the center of the show’s Fire Nation conflict. As the series moves deeper into its story, Azula’s importance is expected to grow. That makes Yu one of the cast members fans are watching closely.

She is also gaining notice because of her representation. As Hollywood continues to open more room for Asian and mixed-heritage performers in major genre projects, Yu’s casting in a globally recognized series carries cultural significance. She is part of a younger wave of actors who are becoming familiar to audiences through streaming, fandom culture, and franchise storytelling.

Conclusion

Elizabeth Yu’s career is still in its early chapters, but she has already landed the kind of role many young actors dream about. From early acting interests in New Jersey to appearing in May December and stepping into the role of Princess Azula, she has moved quickly into projects with serious visibility.

What makes her interesting is not just that she is famous now. It is that she is still becoming. Her filmography is growing, her audience is expanding, and Avatar: The Last Airbender gives her a character with real dramatic weight.

For readers asking, “Who is Elizabeth Yu?”, the answer is simple: she is an American actress on the rise, best known for playing Azula, with a career poised to grow far beyond a single breakout role.

FAQs

Who is Elizabeth Yu?

Elizabeth Yu is an American actress best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. She has also appeared in May December and Somewhere in Queens.

How old is Elizabeth Yu?

Elizabeth Yu is 23 years old as of May 2026. Public sources differ on whether her birthday is October 5 or October 6, 2002.

What is Elizabeth Yu known for?

She is best known for her role as Princess Azula in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. She also appeared as Mary Atherton-Yoo in the film May December.

What is Elizabeth Yu’s height?
A reliable official source has not publicly confirmed Elizabeth Yu’s height.

Where is Elizabeth Yu from?

Elizabeth Yu is from New Jersey, United States. Some public profiles identify Mystic Island, New Jersey, as her birthplace.

What is Elizabeth Yu’s net worth?

Elizabeth Yu’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some websites publish estimates, but there is no officially verified figure available.

Follow Elizabeth Yu’s latest work in Avatar: The Last Airbender and keep exploring more celebrity biographies to discover the rising stars shaping today’s entertainment world.