Ethan Hawke commemorates a quarter-century since his first Academy Award nomination, recalling his journey from 2001’s Training Day to his recent Best Actor nod for the film Blue Moon at the 98th Oscars. This milestone highlights his enduring presence in Hollywood and the continued recognition of his work spanning acting and screenwriting.
Looking Back on a Quarter Century of Recognitions
It has been 25 years since Ethan Hawke received his initial Oscar nomination for *Training Day*, and this moment holds a feeling of coming full circle. Now 55 years old, Hawke reflects on being the youngest nominee in his category back then and currently the oldest among the contenders.
“I was the youngest in my category and now I’m the oldest,”
Hawke shared with PEOPLE.
“And it happened so fast. It feels like six years ago that Training Day came out to me in my brain, so it’s hard not to think about a lifetime spent doing this,”
he continued.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be here and to still be doing this dance because I enjoy it a lot, but it does make you think a lot about time.”
In 2001, Hawke earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a rookie police officer opposite Denzel Washington in the crime thriller *Training Day*, set in Los Angeles. Though he lost the award to Jim Broadbent for *Iris*, the experience was a significant milestone early in his career.
Advice to His Younger Self and Career Reflections
Asked what guidance he might offer his younger self at the time of that first nomination, Hawke responded with lightheartedness, noting he was already enjoying the moment fully. He recognized the privilege of sharing the screen with Washington, whom he described as among the greatest actors, making the experience extraordinary.
“I was having a great time in 2001. I don’t know if I needed a lot of advice,”
Hawke said with a smile.
“I knew how fortunate I was to be there, to get to do this whole event with Denzel. He’s one of the greatest actors who’ve ever lived, and so to get to ride shotgun — that wasn’t lost on me what a special experience that was.”
Hawke also emphasized the value of patience throughout his career, revealing his calm approach to awards and industry pressures.
“It wasn’t like I was here like a bag of anxiety [or] nerves. I enjoyed every second, and I’m trying to do the same now,”
he explained.
Accumulating Accolades Over Time
Over the span of his career, Hawke has received five Oscar nominations. These include acting nods for *Before Sunset* and *Boyhood*, as well as recognition as a screenwriter for *Before Midnight*. His latest nomination is for Best Actor at the upcoming Oscars for playing Lorenz Hart in *Blue Moon*.
This year’s Best Actor category at the 98th Academy Awards features Hawke among other notable actors, including Timothée Chalamet for *Marty Supreme*, Leonardo DiCaprio for *One Battle After Another*, Michael B. Jordan for *Sinners*, and Wagner Moura for *The Secret Agent*.
A Longstanding Collaboration with Richard Linklater
*Blue Moon* marks Hawke’s ninth film working with director Richard Linklater, a partnership that began in 1994 and includes the celebrated *Before Sunrise* released in 1995. Together, they have forged a creative collaboration spanning three decades with significant contributions to independent cinema.
“We started working together in 1994,”
Hawke said.
“We’ve been pushing each other and driving each other for 30 years. And we’ve made films that are really meaningful to us. And when other people like them, it feels tremendous.”
Upcoming Awards and the Oscars Ceremony
In addition to the Academy Awards, Hawke is also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor Awards—an accolade he was previously nominated for due to his role in *Training Day*. The Oscars ceremony itself is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, hosted live by Conan O’Brien and broadcast at 7 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming available on Hulu. Notably, starting in 2029, the event will be streamed on YouTube, indicating a shift towards digital platforms for major award shows.
Ethan Hawke’s ongoing achievements and collaborations demonstrate his resilience and passion in the film industry, marking a significant chapter in both his personal career and contemporary cinema. His reflective yet hopeful outlook underscores the enduring relevance of his work more than two decades after his first Oscar nomination.
