Ethan Hawke says he regrets parts of Maya Hawke’s ‘really hard’ childhood

Ethan Hawke has opened up about his regrets over parts of his daughter Maya Hawke’s childhood, describing her upbringing as “really hard and complicated”.

Speaking during an Actors on Actors conversation with Sydney Sweeney for Variety, the actor reflected candidly on parenting Maya, who he shares with his former wife, Uma Thurman. Hawke said there were aspects of her early life that he still feels remorse about, although he did not go into specific detail.

“There were a lot of things about her childhood that were really, really hard and complicated, and things I regret for her,” Hawke said during the discussion.

Despite the challenges, Hawke said he recognised Maya’s creative instincts from a very young age, explaining that he knew she would grow up to be an artist by the time she was four. He recalled that activities such as painting, dancing and singing became her safe space throughout childhood.

Hawke also shared a moment from Maya’s school years that left a lasting impression on him. He recalled a teacher asking her whether she was happy, only for Maya to respond with a thoughtful answer that suggested she questioned the importance of happiness itself. Hawke described his daughter as wise beyond her years, particularly when it came to understanding human connection.

Maya Hawke has since built a successful acting career, starring in projects including Stranger Things and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She is also set to appear in upcoming films such as One Night Only, Wishful Thinking and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

Hawke, who is also a father to three other children, has previously said he avoids publicly discussing his divorce from Thurman out of respect for his family. In an earlier interview, he explained that he made a promise to his children not to speak about the separation in detail, describing divorce as particularly difficult because of its impact on family dynamics.

While Hawke did not elaborate on the hardships Maya faced, his comments offered a rare glimpse into the personal reflections behind his public life, as well as the complexities of raising children in the spotlight.