Elizabeth Yu Net Worth: Age, Biography & Career
Elizabeth Yu is one of those young actors who seemed to arrive quietly, then suddenly became hard to ignore. One minute, she was building her early screen career. Next, she was stepping into one of the most intense and fan-discussed roles in modern fantasy television: Princess Azula.
So, Who Is Elizabeth Yu? She is an American actress best known for playing Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. She has also appeared in films such as Somewhere in Queens and May December, building her profile in both streaming television and film.
What makes her rise interesting is not just the role itself, but the timing. Elizabeth Yu is still early in her career, yet she has already worked on a major Netflix franchise and a critically discussed Todd Haynes film. That kind of start gets people curious fast.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Yu |
| Date of Birth | October 2002, commonly reported as October 6, 2002 |
| Age | 23 years old as of May 2026 |
| Birthplace | New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Known For | Princess Azula in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, May December, Somewhere in Queens |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Yu was born in New Jersey in October 2002. She has been publicly described as being from New Jersey and is known to have graduated from Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County in 2021.
Her background has also drawn attention, as representation is part of how many fans connect with her work. Yu has been described publicly as half-Korean, and she has spoken about the value of Asian American visibility in entertainment.
Unlike some young stars who grow up with years of public exposure, Yu’s early life stayed mostly private. That makes it important not to fill in gaps with guesses. Publicly available details point to a New Jersey upbringing, a high school graduation in 2021, and an acting path that began to gain traction soon after.
Her interest in acting appears to have developed during her teenage years. She was reportedly auditioning for roles in high school around the same period that her long-term boyfriend, actor Gaten Matarazzo, was already known for Stranger Things.
Career Breakthrough
Elizabeth Yu’s career breakthrough came when she joined Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender as Princess Azula. The role introduced her to a large global audience and placed her inside one of the most recognizable fantasy franchises of the modern streaming era.
That role mattered because Azula is not a small character in the Avatar universe. Fans of the original animated series know her as brilliant, dangerous, disciplined, and emotionally complex. Playing her requires more than looking serious on camera. The actor has to capture control, ambition, insecurity, and threat all at once.
Yu also had to prepare physically for the role. She trained extensively before arriving on set, building strength and control to meet the character’s firebending and stunt demands.
Her public profile grew further after the first season premiered in 2024. With Azula expected to become a larger force in future seasons, Yu’s role is likely to become even more central to the story.
Major Works and Achievements
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Elizabeth Yu is best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. The role introduced her to a global streaming audience and placed her inside one of the most beloved fantasy franchises of the 2000s.
Azula is a difficult role because she carries a lot of fan expectation. She is not just a villain. She is a royal prodigy, a strategist, a fighter, and a character shaped by pressure. Yu’s casting gave viewers a new live-action version of that personality while also setting up a bigger arc for later seasons.
As the live-action story continues, Azula’s role is expected to grow, giving Yu more room to show the character’s intelligence, intensity, and emotional complexity.
May December
Before many mainstream viewers knew her as Azula, Elizabeth Yu appeared in May December, the 2023 film directed by Todd Haynes. She played Mary Atherton-Yoo, the daughter of the characters played by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.
This was a strong early credit because May December was not a lightweight project. It was a high-profile drama featuring acclaimed actors and serious awards-season conversation. For a young actress, being part of that cast gave Yu experience in a very different kind of storytelling from fantasy television.
Somewhere in Queens
Yu’s first screen role came in Somewhere in Queens, Ray Romano’s directorial debut.
That credit is worth mentioning because it marks the start of her professional filmography. While it did not make her a household name overnight, it helped establish her screen presence before larger opportunities followed.
Growing Recognition
Elizabeth Yu has not yet built a decades-long resume, and that is exactly why her career feels interesting right now. She is still in the early chapters, but those chapters already include Netflix, a respected film director, and a fan-favorite animated character brought into live action.
Personal Life
Elizabeth Yu keeps much of her personal life private, but one aspect is public knowledge: her relationship with actor Gaten Matarazzo. Yu and Matarazzo have reportedly been together since March 2018 and have made several public appearances together.
Their relationship has attracted attention because Matarazzo is widely known for playing Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things. Still, Yu’s identity is not limited to being someone’s girlfriend. She is building her own career, and her roles in Avatar: The Last Airbender and May December have helped her gain recognition on her own terms.
Yu and Matarazzo are also reported to have graduated from the same New Jersey high school in 2021.
Outside of acting, Yu appears to enjoy a fairly grounded public image. Her social media presence is stylish but not overly exposed, and she seems careful about how much personal information she shares. That balance can be smart for a rising actor, especially one stepping into a fandom as passionate as Avatar.
Net Worth and Income Sources
A reliable financial source does not publicly confirm Elizabeth Yu’s net worth. Some celebrity biography sites publish estimated figures, but those numbers are often not based on verified contracts, tax records, or official financial disclosures.
Some online reports estimate her net worth at between $1 million and $2 million. However, because these figures are not officially confirmed, they should be treated as estimates rather than facts.
Her likely income sources include:
- Acting roles in films and television
- Streaming series work
- Public appearances and press-related opportunities
- Possible brand or fashion-related collaborations, if publicly disclosed
At this stage, her acting career appears to be her primary source of income. With Avatar: The Last Airbender continuing into future seasons, her earning potential could grow if her role expands and her visibility increases.
Fun Facts and Lesser-Known Details
She trained seriously for Azula.
Yu did not simply show up and play the role of a royal villain. She trained to prepare for the physical demands of Azula’s firebending sequences.
Her first screen role came before Avatar premiered
Many viewers discovered her through Avatar, but her first credited screen role was in Somewhere in Queens.
She appeared in a major prestige film early in her career
Her role in May December put her in the same project as Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton.
She is part of a major moment in representation.
Yu has spoken about Asian American representation and the importance of younger viewers seeing people who look like them on screen.
Fans are watching her next Avatar chapter closely.y
Azula’s role becomes more intense as the story moves forward, which means Yu’s performance is likely to receive even more attention in future seasons.
Why Elizabeth Yu Is Gaining Attention
Elizabeth Yu is gaining attention because she sits at the center of several things audiences care about right now: streaming franchises, young Hollywood talent, Asian American representation, and beloved animated characters being reimagined for live action.
Her role as Azula is the biggest reason for the spike in public interest. Avatar: The Last Airbender already had a built-in fanbase, and Azula is one of the most talked-about characters in the original story. When Yu appeared as the live-action version of Azula, fans naturally became curious about the actress behind the role.
Her momentum also feels current. As the live-action Avatar story continues, Azula is expected to become a stronger and more dangerous presence. That means searches for “Who Is Elizabeth Yu,” “Elizabeth Yu age,” “Elizabeth Yu biography,” and “Elizabeth Yu net worth” are likely to keep rising as new episodes and promotional material roll out.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Yu is still early in her acting journey, but she has already built a resume that many young performers would love to have. From Somewhere in Queens to May December to Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, she has moved quickly from emerging actress to rising name in a major fantasy franchise.
Her performance as Princess Azula is the role most viewers know her for, and it may also be the role that defines the next phase of her career. With more Avatar ahead and growing public interest around her, Elizabeth Yu looks like a young actress worth watching closely.
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 was born in October 2002, making her 23 years old as of May 2026.
What is Elizabeth Yu known for?
She is best known for playing Azula in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. She is also known for her role as Mary Atherton-Yoo in May December.
What is Elizabeth Yu’s height?
A reliable source has not publicly confirmed Elizabeth Yu’s height.
Where is Elizabeth Yu from?
Elizabeth Yu is from New Jersey, United States.
What is Elizabeth Yu’s net worth?
Elizabeth Yu’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some online estimates exist, but they should be treated with caution, as they have not been verified. Official financial sources do not verify them.
Follow Elizabeth Yu’s latest work through her upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender appearances, and explore more celebrity biographies to discover rising stars before everyone else does.