Hailey Gates Havana Rose Liu represent a new kind of Hollywood star. They are stylish, unconventional, creatively ambitious, and closely connected to the independent-film world. Instead of following the traditional blockbuster route, both actresses have built momentum through distinctive projects and strong fashion identities.
Hailey Gates Is Making Her Own Hollywood Rules
Hailey Gates has spent years moving between acting, writing, directing, fashion, and journalism. That unusual creative background has become part of her appeal.
Her feature directorial debut, Atropia, premiered at Sundance and won the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Dramatic Competition. Gates created the film with Alia Shawkat, extending a creative partnership that began with the short film Shako Mako.
Gates is also part of A24’s 2026 music-industry satire The Moment. Directed by Aidan Zamiri and inspired by Charli xcx’s rise and touring experience, the film places Gates in the role of Celeste, a member of the pop star’s creative circle.
Havana Rose Liu Has Become an Indie-Film Favorite
Havana Rose Liu has taken a different route, combining modeling, fashion, theater, comedy, and dramatic acting. Her breakout in Bottoms helped introduce her to a much larger audience, while Lurker demonstrated her ability to work inside darker psychological material.
In Lurker, Liu plays Shai, the manager of a rising musician whose inner circle becomes increasingly complicated. The thriller explores celebrity culture, online obsession, and the increasingly blurry boundary between fans and stars.
From Fashion Pages to Major Film Sets
Part of Liu’s growing profile comes from her ability to move naturally between cinema and fashion. Her editorial appearances have reinforced an image that feels more individualistic than traditionally manufactured.
That momentum reached another level in 2026 when Liu made her Cannes debut with Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell. She arrived at the festival in a dramatic red Balenciaga gown, creating one of the year’s most recognizable fashion moments around her emerging film career.
A24’s New Generation Looks Different
The connection between these two performers is bigger than fashion. Both fit naturally into the type of cinema associated with A24: filmmaker-driven, visually distinctive, culturally specific, and willing to experiment.
Liu is also joining Alex Garland’s highly anticipated live-action Elden Ring, alongside Kit Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, Tom Burke, and other major names. A24 currently lists the film for March 3, 2028.
Meanwhile, Gates continues to build a career that crosses acting and filmmaking. Her work suggests that the modern indie star does not need to fit into one professional category.
Why Hailey Gates and Havana Rose Liu Stand Out
What makes Hailey Gates Havana Rose Liu such an interesting pairing is their unpredictability. Neither career feels completely prepackaged.
They can appear in major fashion editorials, experimental independent movies, comedy, thrillers, theater, or large-scale genre productions without losing their individual identities. Their appeal comes from that creative flexibility.
For audiences searching for the next generation of Hollywood personalities, Gates and Liu represent a broader shift. Today’s breakout stars are increasingly expected to be performers, creators, fashion figures, and cultural voices at the same time.
And if their current projects are any indication, the A24 generation is only getting started.
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