NEW YORK — Ethan Hawke, a veteran actor with over forty years and almost 90 films to his name, is experiencing a milestone in his career as he earns his first Best Actor Oscar nomination at the 2026 Academy Awards for his role as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon. Having dedicated nearly a decade to preparing for this part, Hawke’s journey highlights his passion and commitment to the craft.
Hawke’s enthusiasm remains as vibrant as when he first began acting. Despite his lengthy career, his excitement and deep affection for performing are evident. The role of Lorenz Hart, the legendary Broadway lyricist, rekindled his love for acting in a profound way, prompting him to pause rehearsals for the second season of The Lowdown to share insights about the character and the Oscar recognition.
Immersing Fully in the Role of Lorenz Hart
Hawke described the intensity of inhabiting a character for so long before filming. He invested ten years studying Hart’s life and lyrics, aiming to understand him intimately. The process of becoming Hart was immersive, down to altering his appearance—shaving his head to achieve Hart’s iconic comb-over look. Though he found the transformation physically challenging and even described looking “ridiculous,” it was a necessary part of embodying the role.
He compared saying goodbye to the character to the bittersweet experience of leaving summer camp, where powerful connections and growth occur, yet outside contacts remain unaware of the transformation. This analogy captured the personal nature of acting, where deep emotional investments often go unseen by others.
“That’s the thing nobody talks about. We spend all this time trying to figure out: who is the character? What is he thinking? What’s his watch look like? How does he do his hair? You read books, you look at the lyrics. For Lorenz Hart, a lot of who he is, is in his lyrics. And then how to say goodbye is really difficult, because it becomes… the most relatable example would be like when you were a kid and you go to summer camp and you have these unbelievable experiences – you make great friends, you have counselors who really care about you – and then you go home and there’s no one who knows what happened. You feel changed, but nobody else knows.” — Ethan Hawke
Following the wrap party, where he jokingly likened his look to Telly Savalas, he quickly shaved his head and took a long walk on the beach in Ireland to come to terms with leaving the role behind. He emphasized that for an actor, few roles come with such a clear sense of importance—a genuine “wow moment.”
“I knew it. I’d never been asked to work so hard before, and I knew it was a great opportunity. You also know that you can never do as well as you want to, but I sat there at the ocean in Dublin saying goodbye thinking: I did my best. I didn’t do it as well as I wanted to, but I did the best I could on every given day. I felt good about it. I said goodbye to it, put on my little hoodie, and caught the plane home.” — Ethan Hawke
The Weight and Joy of a First Oscar Nomination After Four Decades
Despite his extensive career, Hawke’s nomination for Best Actor marks a significant recognition. He expressed how meaningful it is to have work acknowledged and appreciated by audiences and peers. The experience connected him directly with viewers, as seen during a flight to London, where strangers were moved by Blue Moon.
“You don’t make a movie or go on stage or make anything just to send it into the void unnoticed. This has never happened before for me, so I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel really good. But mostly what feels amazing is the look on your face when you’re talking about the movie. Or, I was flying to London and there were people at baggage claim who had watched it on the plane. They had tears in their eyes. That feels really good, because a lot of times you work really hard on a movie and nobody sees it. Or you don’t work that hard and everybody sees it, and you get credit you didn’t deserve. I made this movie with one of my best friends. We believed in the script. To sit there at baggage claim and listen to strangers love the writing, I just thought, ‘I know, that’s exactly how we felt.'” — Ethan Hawke
His dedication to the role and film was evident in the strong connections he forged with his fellow actors and crew, highlighting the collaborative nature of his work on Blue Moon.
Balancing Heartbreak and Wit in Telling Lorenz Hart’s Story
Hawke reflected on the tone of the film, which honors the complexity of Hart’s life with both humor and poignancy. While the story touches on sorrow and layered emotions, it carries a musical wit, reflective of Rodgers and Hart’s songwriting.
“It’s in a way a heartbreaking story, but it’s told with so much wit. If you listen to the Rodgers and Hart songbook, there’s so much wit in it. There’s sadness, there are big subjects and deep feelings, but it’s always told with a little bit of silliness. That’s what Rick and I really wanted with the movie.” — Ethan Hawke
The film’s New York setting, centered around the iconic Broadway restaurant Sardi’s, added an additional layer of significance for Hawke as a native New Yorker. The pride of representing this locale and its storied theatrical heritage was clear.
“It feels so good. I grew up idolizing those people on that wall at Sardi’s, wanting to touch the legends of Broadway. It’s a mysterious little club – people who have achieved a level of excellence at their chosen craft. The characters in this movie exist all over the world, but most of them gravitate to New York. They end up coming to Broadway. Getting to make a movie that celebrates New York this way is awesome.” — Ethan Hawke
Early Career Reflections and Defining Moments
When asked about a professional moment he’d like to relive, Hawke fondly recalled the foundational years of a theater company he and friends started in their twenties. Those grassroots experiences shaped his artistic discipline and outlook.
“When I was in my early 20s, a bunch of friends and I started a theater company. It was $10 a ticket. We were hustling to hand out flyers. We were doing our friends’ plays. It was impossible to cast anyone over 30, because we didn’t have anyone over 30 in the company. We built the sets, rented U-Hauls, struck the sets, did readings at midnight. In hindsight, I realize those years are what formed me – the way I think, the way I approach rehearsal, the way I approach what we do for a living. I’d love to revisit a handful of those evenings and see those people again.” — Ethan Hawke
He also shared vivid memories from iconic film projects. Reflecting on Dead Poets Society, Hawke recounted his first nervousness working alongside Robin Williams and drew upon the encouragement from cast members like Norman Lloyd. He recalled a moment in New York where patrons at a restaurant spontaneously applauded an “O Captain, My Captain” tribute, underscoring the lasting impact of that early work.
Discussing Training Day, Hawke expressed admiration for Denzel Washington as one of the greatest actors he’s worked with, describing his experience with director Antoine Fuqua and the intense energy on set as unforgettable.
“Denzel! One of the greatest actors in the history of the profession. To get to ride shotgun with him, run lines with him, watch him work, and try not to let him down. Antoine Fuqua directing, driving through L.A., it was so intense. I was 30 years old and I knew this does not happen often. I’m working with one of the best, and I’ve got a great part and a great director. That was one of the best work experiences of my life.” — Ethan Hawke
His nostalgia extended to Explorers where moments shared with River Phoenix, including attempting to mimic James Dean by smoking cigarettes for the first time, remain deeply personal and evocative.
“I really think about River. That’s what stayed with me. He and I snuck into a diner with a big thing of quarters and tried to buy a pack of Camel cigarettes. We were both obsessed with James Dean – we were convinced James Dean smoked – but neither one of us had ever smoked before. We went out to a football field and smoked our first cigarette together. That’s the kind of thing I remember.” — Ethan Hawke
Support from Fellow Actors During Blue Moon
Hawke credits his close collaboration and supportive friendships as key to navigating the demands of Blue Moon. Bobby Cannavale, in particular, was a constant source of encouragement and honest feedback during the intense shooting schedule, along with co-stars Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley, whose camaraderie helped sustain him through the process.
“What popped into my head was my friendship with Bobby Cannavale. He ran lines with me every day. It was so much work and I would have low moments, and he would always look at me and say, ‘You got this, bro. You got this. Not for nothing, I think you could do a little better.’ You know, that’s Bobby. His unwavering support and belief in me meant everything. And when I think about the actual performing of it, I think about making eye contact with the other actors – Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, Bobby – all of them were really pulling me along every day. I’ll always remember their faces.” — Ethan Hawke
Imagining a Conversation With Lorenz Hart
If given the chance to speak directly with Lorenz Hart, Hawke expressed that he would primarily want to listen and enjoy Hart’s sharp humor. He imagines asking about pivotal moments like the opening night of Pal Joey and offering gratitude for being entrusted with his story, while acknowledging any inaccuracies in his portrayal.
“Mostly I’d want to listen, because he’s so funny. He’s one of the great wits of all time. So mostly I want to ask him: what was opening night of Pal Joey like? And let him rip. What I’d want to say is: thank you, and forgive me for anything I got wrong. I think he would be thrilled that we’re just talking about him at all. He loved what he did so much, loved his poetry so much. I think he would be so happy that My Funny Valentine still lives in the consciousness. A couple words that cheated death.” — Ethan Hawke
Embracing the Present Amid Career Milestones
Despite the intensity of working on an Oscar-nominated film, Hawke tries to remain grounded and cherish the current chapter of his life. He acknowledges the importance of staying present to enjoy both personal and professional successes.
“Trying to. Trying to stay present and enjoy all of this.” — Ethan Hawke
With the Oscars approaching, this moment offers a rare opportunity to celebrate a career marked by persistence, deep artistic investment, and continued growth, signaling a potential new phase in Ethan Hawke’s enduring legacy.
