After more than four decades as one of Hollywood’s most reliable stars, Ethan Hawke has entered an unfamiliar phase of fame — one in which his 27-year-old daughter, Maya, and her “Stranger Things” success often steal the room.
He couldn’t be more proud.
During a Jan. 7 appearance on TODAY, as Hawke discussed his Golden Globe nomination for period film “Blue Moon,” the conversation turned to Maya and her role as fearlessly smart Robin Buckley on the hit Netflix sci-fi series.
Craig Melvin then played a clip from a recent interview where Maya recalled walking down the street with her father when a person stopped them, only to make clear he wasn’t interested in Hawke at all.
“Sorry, I’m not doing any pictures today,” Hawke told the fan, Maya said, before the stranger replied, “I don’t know who you are, man. I wanted to talk to Robin.”
Hawke quickly added that his daughter had been understating the moment. “She’s actually being shy,” he said, noting that similar encounters have happened “like five times.”
For him, the role reversal has been deeply moving. “It’s been one of the most incredible feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” he said.
Hawke said Maya gravitated toward the arts from a young age.
“She always wanted to paint and draw and write poems,” he said, recalling trips to Broadway shows, concerts by Adele and Taylor Swift, and screenings of old French films. Even as a little girl, Hawke said, she wanted “to participate in that collective dialogue that is the arts,” and seeing her do it “at a high level” and as part of her generation, he gushed, “it feels great.”
Hawke has four children: Maya and 23-year-old son, Levon, with his former wife, Uma Thurman; and two daughters, Clementine, 17, and Indiana, 14, with his wife, Ryan Shawhughes.
Ethan Hawke spoke with Access Hollywood digital guest correspondent Lauren Herbert at the 37th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards and he reacted to the ending of “Stranger Things.” He also reacted to being honored at the event.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
