Ethan Hawke Reveals Daughter Connected Him to Taylor Swift,โ credits Linklater for early โCareer Composure
MIAMI, FL – Actor Ethan Hawke shared anecdotesโค about his โขcareer,โ including โhis recent collaboration with Taylor Swift andโค formative experiences with Richard โLinklater and Denzel Washington, during a recent appearance at Miami-Dade CollegeS Wolfson Auditorium.
Hawke recounted a particularly challenging audition for 2001’s “Training day,” where โhe starred alongside Denzel โWashington. He described Washington’s improvisational approach during the screenโค test: “I came into the screen test and he โjust didn’t say one scripted line in the entire screen test. He was just โimprovising with me and it was realy difficult to try to โkeep โฃup with him.”โค
Toโฃ navigate the intimidating situation, Hawke drewโข upon his work with directorโ Richard Linklater. “I was โjust โtelling myself, in my head, ‘Whyโข don’t you just pretend Rick’s in โขthe room?'” he explained. “I’ll try not to be intimidated and I just made up lines like I wouldโข with Rick.” The strategy proved accomplished,landing Hawke the roleโค and his first Oscar nomination.
more recently, Hawke appeared in Taylor Swift’s โฃ”Fortnight” music videoโฃ featuring Post Malone, a connection โขfacilitated by his daughter, Maya Hawke. “My daughter is creating opportunities in my life,” Hawke said. “I got a text from my daughter saying ‘Hey dad,โฃ Taylor โSwift wants your number.’ So I guess they met.”โ He noted Swift’s appreciationโข for “Dead Poets Society,” adding, “I’ll take what I can get.” โฃ
Hawke also reunited with “Dead Poets Society” co-star Josh Charles on the โproject, โpraising Swift’s directorial skills. “That โฃwoman is incredible,” heโ stated.โ “To watchโ her empower โherself to direct โคthese videos and take itโฃ all on the chin and โbe willingโค to stand out front,โ it is indeed โขnot easy.” He โขfurther compared attending Swift’s Eras tour to โwitnessing the Beatles at the height of their fame, observing its cultural impact: “Notโ only is she changingโ the economy of the world, she has people โcoming together in a roomโฆcaring about poetry, caring about ideas, caring about expression.”
Concluding the event,Hawke reflected on his career trajectory,admitting a focus onโ future projects. “I’m so โfuture-centric,” he said. “No โsooner do you get something like a prizeโฆthat it โขcrosses your mind, ‘What’s next? Can I do something? I like doing this. Can I โdo it again?'”
