Ethan Hawke is a respected name in the film industry with a diverse and rich filmography. He has ventured into various genres, challenging his potential and proving his versatility as an actor. He also has a talented daughter Maya Hawke who stars as fan-favorite Robin in Stranger Things. The nepotism tag has followed Hawke throughout her career and she has time and again addressed and proved that she is not a proud and elitist product of nepotism. She has shown her range as an actress in various projects and proved to the world that she is an extension of her father’s acting genes. It seems Ethan Hawke answered the discourse around her daughter and the negative talk about casting her in his new film.
Ethan Hawke is Proud of his daughter Maya Hawke
Ethan Hawke recently talked about the decision to cast his daughter Maya Hawke in his new film Wildcat (2023), which is based on the life of American novelist Flannery O’Connor. He is aware of the nepo-debate and criticism that his daughter has been getting and he understands people’s views and where they are coming from. But he is proud of his daughter and cast her based on her talent and not solely because she is his daughter. He said,
“You don’t have to ask me anymore or bring it up… yes, I’m a nepo-father. And yes, I’m proud to be working with my daughter”
Hawke must have chosen his daughter to play the late novelist because she fits the role and could portray the wide range of emotions that are needed out of the character. The aspect of being a nepo-kid aside, she is a talented actress herself and her father must have seen her recent projects and selected her based on her ability and range as an actress.
Maya Hawke Has also Talked About Being a Nepo-Kid
Maya Hawke has talked about the discourse around nepotism and her being labeled a Nepo-Kid. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she addressed her awareness of the same and how she does not listen to all the noise and only focuses on doing a good job by utilizing the opportunities given to her. She said,
“I feel like the only way to handle the nepotism thing — which definitely gives you massive advantages in this life — is, you will get chances for free, but the chances will not be infinite, so you have to keep working and do a good job. If you do a bad job, the chances will stop. That’s my ethos.”
Hawke is mature in her ability to handle unnecessary and biased opinions and criticisms around her supposed entitlement over her acting career. She wants to prove everyone wrong through her work and cement her position as a capable actress in the industry and not just a product of nepotism.
What is Wildcat About?
Wildcat is the fifth directorial film by Ethan Hawke. The film is a biographical drama based on the life of American novelist Flannery O’Connor. It stars Maya Hawke, Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Cooper Hoffman among others.
It was screened at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023. It is also scheduled to premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023.
Source: X
