Ethan Hawke Vows to Protect Children From Divorce Fallout
Ethan Hawke made a significant vow to his children when he separated from their mother, Uma Thurman.
“The glare of public attention acts like fuel, but what truly complicates divorce are the challenges common to everyone — the familial aspects, navigating it with the kids,” the 55-year-old Hawke informed the Los Angeles Times in an interview released on Thursday, November 20. “I have such admiration for individuals who achieve peaceful partings.”
Hawke promptly ceased further discussion on the subject.
“I truly cannot speak on this because I have promised my kids countless times not to address the divorce publicly,” he clarified. “But one observation I will share is that if you are fortunate enough to travel the globe, you realize that universally, men and women encounter immense difficulty in sustaining marriages.”
Maya Hawke Supports Father Ethan as He Receives Career Achievement Honor
Hawke and Thurman, also 55, were married from 1998 until 2005. The former spouses share a daughter, Maya, 27, and a son, Levon, 23.
This is not the first occasion this year that Hawke has reflected on his separation from Thurman. During a September discussion with GQ U.K., Hawke stated it was “demeaning” how their split garnered so much media attention in the early 2000s.
“It’s almost embarrassing even when the commentary is favorable,” the actor added.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Hawke explained the propensity for actors to fall in love on set. (He and Thurman began their romance while filming the 1997 movie Gattaca.)
“Have you ever played a game of Spin the Bottle?” Hawke queried. “There’s a particular closeness to the creative work we do. A closeness rooted in imagination.”
He continued, “It delivers such an intense rush. It feels both perilous and exhilarating. It heightens the energy in your life. It can be likened to experiencing romance at summer camp. It bears no connection to the mundane realities of everyday existence. That is precisely where the danger lies.”
Hawke has since moved forward with his wife, Ryan Shawhughes, whom he wed in 2008. Initially, Hawke confessed he had no interest in expanding his family further — until he encountered Shawhughes.
“When I broke up, I was absolutely determined not to have any more children and desired to remain single indefinitely,” he recounted. “But then I found a best friend, and I enjoyed kissing her.”
They have since welcomed daughters Clementine Jane, 17, and Indiana, 14.
Levon Hawke Shares Insights on His Bond With Sister Maya: ‘My Closest Confidante'
Hawke further elaborated on his bond with his children within the same L.A. Times profile.
“My kids never need to inquire about my thoughts on anything because I am perpetually expressive,” he said.
Naturally, Hawke was also asked about his appearance in the music video for Taylor Swift’s 2024 track “Fortnight.” The actor remarked that, surprisingly, this collaboration did not bring him any closer to his two younger daughters. (Hawke’s eldest daughter, Maya, recently confirmed she was the one who provided Swift with Hawke’s contact information.)
“This serves as an illustration of how situations are not always as they appear. Did I participate for my teenage daughters? No. I took them to a Taylor Swift concert as a treat for them,” he stated. “However, I did it because Taylor asked, and I was flattered that she recognized Dead Poets Society. Yet, oddly, it’s the one thing I believe my children wish I hadn’t pursued.”
Hawke clarified, “Because I essentially took Taylor away from them! They had their own private connection to Taylor’s music, and now their father received a holiday card from her, or whatever. It was as if they said, ‘Hmph! What is Dua Lipa doing these days?’ You know?”
