Ethan Hawke is getting brutally honest about fatherhood—and the complicated early years of his daughter, Maya Hawke.
In a resurfaced Actors on Actors conversation with Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney from December 2025, the 55-year-old actor reflected on Maya’s childhood with rare vulnerability. Hawke, who shares Maya and son Levon with ex-wife Uma Thurman, admitted that not everything was picture-perfect behind the scenes.
“There were aspects of her childhood that were incredibly challenging and complex, and I have regrets about that,” he confessed during the discussion hosted by Variety. The candid admission shed light on the emotional weight both father and daughter carried during those formative years.
Hawke revealed he recognized Maya’s artistic spark almost immediately. By the time she was four, she was already drawn to watercolor painting, dancing, and singing—creative outlets that became her emotional refuge. While teachers reportedly expressed concern about her happiness, Maya’s response stunned him. “Do you really think that’s the question?” she fired back, displaying the depth and self-awareness that would later define her.
Despite those early struggles, Maya has since emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young stars. She became a global sensation as Robin Buckley on Netflix’s Stranger Things, which recently wrapped its fifth and final season. What once felt “challenging and complex” has evolved into a story of resilience, talent, and hard-earned success.
