Ethan Hawke Refuses to Be Typecast
As a young actor, Ethan Hawke’s drive to take on varied roles sometimes caused tension. This fall, his passion for diversity has resulted in major parts in The Lowdown, Blue Moon, and Black Phone 2.
Hawke has always surprised audiences throughout his extensive career, shifting seamlessly from prestige drama to quirky comedy and deep horror, committing fully to each character.
Unlikely Convergence of Projects
This year, Hawke’s projects present an unusual combination. In Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, he transforms into Lorenz Hart, a complex songwriter. On the FX series The Lowdown, created by his friend Sterlin Harjo, Hawke plays Lee Raybon, a reckless journalist. In Black Phone 2, he portrays a chilling serial killer stalking children from beyond the grave.
“It makes you believe in astrology or something,” Hawke said during a Zoom interview from New York City. “All these disparate parts of my life are being released at the same time. I’ve been so worried about this whole aging process. But the great thing about it is that the roles get a lot more complicated. They get fewer, but the ones you get are complicated and interesting. I feel astonished to have been doing this job for 30 years and have two of the best parts I’ve ever had this year.”
Remarkably, Hawke has been preparing to play Lorenz Hart for over ten years.
Summary
Ethan Hawke’s decades-long commitment to diverse roles culminates this year in some of his most complex and rewarding performances.
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