Ethan Hawke has been making movies for decades. But the role envisioned by longtime collaborator Richard Linklater, born of years of shared theater travel and a mutual love of the stage, ultimately earned him his first Best Actor nomination.
“I don’t think anyone else would have thought of me for this role,” Hawke said in Variety’s “For the Love of the Craft: The Nominees” video. “But he knows me so well that he knew how passionate I felt about it.”
Hawke, who was nominated for Best Actor for his role as lyricist Lorenz Hart in Linklater’s Blue Moon, said he first read the script more than 10 years ago. The two have long bonded over their shared love of theater. They first met when Linklater came to see Hawke play, and the script felt like a natural extension of that relationship. The long gestation period turned out to be a gift. “I’m so happy that it’s something I’ve been dreaming about for 10 years,” he said. “There was no need to rush to prepare.”
During that time, Hawke immersed himself in the musical theater world of Richard Rodgers and Hart, collected biographies, sought out covers of Chet Baker and Bob Dylan songs, and filled what he called his “imaginative tank” at his own pace.
Blue Moon premiered at the Berlin Film Festival a year ago and has since developed a cult following, with Hawke returning to Berlin this week as awards season reaches its climax. He believes in luck as much as craft. “It’s very difficult to penetrate the zeitgeist now without huge advertising dollars,” he says. “When something like that happens, it makes you feel really lucky and grateful.”
On the subject of craft itself, Hawke was characteristically thoughtful, citing his late friend Philip Seymour Hoffman. “You have to feel like it’s the most important thing in the world, but at the same time treat it like it’s a really fun game to play,” he said. He also pointed to Uta Hagen’s “Homage to Acting” and Sidney Lumet’s “Making Movies” as touchstones, viewing great performances not as inspiration but as disciplined, learnable trades.
What will he gain from playing Hart? The eyes of co-stars Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, and Robert Capelli Jr., and above all, Linklater’s steady presence. “Rick’s unwavering friendship,” Hawk said. “That’s what I take away.”
