Ethan Hawke admits ‘regret’ over nepo baby daughter Maya Hawke’s ‘really hard’ childhood

by

Ethan Hawke has expressed regret that his daughter, Maya Hawke, had a difficult childhood, acknowledging the challenges of growing up with famous parents.

The actor, age 55 and recently seen in the comedy-drama Blue Moon, openly discussed the subject in an interview with Variety and CNN’s Actors on Actors, which was released on Thursday.

The actor shares 27-year-old Maya Hawke, the actress from Stranger Things, with his ex-wife, Uma Thurman. They were married from 1998 to 2005 and also have a 23-year-old son named Levon.

Ethan Hawke spoke about his oldest daughter’s difficult and complex childhood, saying he wishes things had been easier for her. He shared these thoughts while appearing in an interview with Sydney Sweeney.

I always loved hearing about Maya’s early creativity – it was clear even when she was young that she had a real gift. Honestly, I remember thinking she was destined to become an artist, and it’s wonderful to see that prediction come true!

I always felt she had a lot of potential. As a child, she found comfort and joy in activities like watercolor painting, dancing, and singing – those were her happy places.

The actor added how his daughter had always been drawn to ‘human communication.’ 

I recall a teacher asking Maya, “Are you happy?” They were concerned about her, and she responded with something like, “Do you honestly think that’s what matters?” I immediately thought how much I admired her.

Hawke went on, relaying Maya’s words: ‘She said she was around thirteen years old, and didn’t think whether she was happy was a worthwhile question. She felt there were far more important things to consider, and honestly, she wasn’t happy – and didn’t even try to be.’

‘So I never worried about her going into the arts, because I knew that was gonna save her life.’ 

Maya is an actress who’s famous for her work in several projects, including her role as Robin Buckley on the Netflix show Stranger Things.

She’s also been in the movies Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Do Revenge (2022), and Maestro (2023).

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the actress shared that she often seeks guidance from her well-known parents about navigating her career in the entertainment industry.

I regularly get their input on important decisions. While they’ve both achieved similar results, they bring very different perspectives based on their individual roles and experiences within the company.

She believes her biggest strength is knowing what to expect – both the challenges and the opportunities. She hopes this experience will help her avoid common mistakes made by newer actors.

Last year, Maya proudly embraced her ‘nepo baby’ label during a conversation with The Times. 

Honestly, I just get her. So many people are truly worthy of all this amazingness, but she just… owns it. She said she’s okay with not feeling like she deserves it and living her best life anyway, and that’s so powerful! And she knows that her happiness isn’t going to somehow magically fix things for everyone else, and she’s right. It’s like, she’s allowed to be happy, even if others aren’t, and I’m totally here for it. It just… resonates, you know?

The celebrity shared that when they were beginning their career, they were presented with a choice: alter their appearance – change their name and get plastic surgery – and pursue open casting calls.

The actress, known for her role in Stranger Things, also mentioned that having a good relationship with her parents has given her advantages in life.

Maya explained that being criticized is sometimes a sign you’re achieving something special. She said it’s actually a good thing, a sign of being in a unique and fortunate position.

I have a really good, honest relationship with my parents, and their opinion matters more to me than anyone else’s.

In 2023, Ethan Hawke pushed back against the idea that his daughter was benefiting from nepotism, explaining that she actually came up with the concept for their film, Wildcat.

The actor jokingly told Variety that he’s a ‘nepo dad’ – someone whose children benefit from their parent’s success – and he’s perfectly fine with that.

His oldest daughter, who was also present for the interview, shared that she felt insecure at times while they were filming the movie.

The internet often lacks subtlety, and I’ve learned a great deal from my dad. We enjoy spending time together and are hoping to collaborate on something.

Okay, so her dad said the smartest thing ever. He was like, ‘Look, if anyone has a problem with us working together, that’s fine, they’re allowed to think that!’ Seriously, he gets it. He said we just have to focus on giving the best performance possible when we’re up there, and honestly? That’s all that matters to me. It’s so perfect, he just gets it. I could cry!

After his divorce from Thurman, the actor married Ryan Hawke in 2008. They have two children together: Clementine, age 17, and Indiana, age 14.

Last month, in an interview with The Times, the star of The Black Phone explained why he’s kept quiet about his divorce.

Dealing with public attention can be inflammatory, but the real challenges of divorce are universal – things like navigating family dynamics and supporting your children through the process.

Hawke then briefly talked about a promise that he made to his children that he shares with Thurman. 

I promised my children I wouldn’t discuss the divorce publicly, so I’m not comfortable talking about it.

He also noted that traveling the world shows you how challenging it is for people everywhere to maintain a marriage.

Read More

2025-12-12 07:34