Who Is Elizabeth Yu? Meet Gaten Matarazzo’s longtime girlfriend

Gaten Matarazzo, the 23-year-old actor best known for his standout role as ‘Dustin Henderson’ in Netflix’s worldwide successful series “Stranger Things,” started his career long before the Upside Down. His first significant entry into entertainment happened on Broadway, where he featured ‘Benjamin’ in “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” As Stranger Things evolved into a global phenomenon, Matarazzo’s performance rapidly turned him into one of the show’s most popular and admired faces.

Away from the screen, Matarazzo has established a steady personal life along with his longtime girlfriend, actress Elizabeth Yu. Both have been together for seven years and are frequently spotted supporting one another at public events. Recent attention surrounding Gaten’s remarks about a troubling fan encounter has also ignited renewed interest in the woman who has been a constant presence throughout his rise to fame.

Who Is Elizabeth Yu?

Elizabeth Yu was born in October 2002 in New Jersey and graduated from Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County in 2021. Shortly following the completion of high school, she started out her own journey in the entertainment industry. Her acting launch came in 2022 with the movie “Somewhere in Queens,” marking her initial entry into professional filmmaking.


Her career received significant momentum when she was cast as ‘Princess Azula’ in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Yu joined the series in December 2021, and the show was introduced in 2024 to massive attention from fans of the original animated series. After its success, Netflix renewed the show for extra seasons, with filming for the second and third seasons ending in late 2025.

In addition to Avatar, Yu appeared in the critically discussed movie “May December,” where she featured ‘Mary Atherton-Yoo,’ the daughter of characters played by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. Mirroring the moment she initially read the script, Yu shared her experience in an interview with IndieWire, remembering that Gaten was sitting beside her at the time. She stated:

"They sent the script over for me to read, and I was sitting on the couch with my boyfriend reading the script and being like, 'Oh, my God,' because of the plot and everything, being like, 'No way!,' so shocked, and just being like, 'Oh, my God, now I am going to go do that and act like I know what I’m even doing in front of these crazy, wild people.' I left to go film that, probably two weeks or so after I had booked it. It really was just like jumping into the deep end, it was such a crazy experience. I’m still pinching myself."

How Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu Met

The couple’s story started on July 4, 2017, though their relationship officially began many months later. Elizabeth disclosed it during an Instagram Live session in September 2018 that she and Gaten started dating on March 4, 2018. Their relationship evolved during their teenage years, with both managing school and early acting profession.

With time, they’ve celebrated meaningful accomplishments together. Gaten and Elizabeth attended both junior and senior prom as a pair, sharing experiences that supported to intensify their bond. Elizabeth once shared an image from their high school days, citing:

"I will never think of High School without thinking of you."

In May 2023, Gaten marked their fifth dating anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram upload, showing appreciation for Elizabeth’s continuous presence and support.

FAQs:

Q1. Who is Gaten Matarazzo?
He is an American actor popular for his role in Stranger Things. He also has a background in Broadway theater.

Q2. Who is Elizabeth Yu?
Elizabeth Yu is an actress who has appeared in movies and television projects. She received wider recognition through Avatar: The Last Airbender.