What You Don't Know About Ethan Hawke
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Academy Award and Tony Award nominee, Ethan Hawke, is no stranger to the media and staying an open book. From his star-studded marriages, scandalous personal life, and talented offspring — like his daughter, Maya Hawke — the public has basically grown up with Ethan Hawke. From being the king of the early '90s heartthrobs, to being hard-hitting characters in some thriller classics, he's done it all. Whether he was your first celebrity crush from Reality Bites or the Before trilogy, you definitely know who he is (via IMDb). And, even at 50 years old, he still looks like a heartthrob — just the sexy, silver fox type now. It's not just me, right?
Despite being in the public eye, there's a lot people don't know about his personal life. Did you know he has his own island? Or that he has success in another career besides acting? And that his current wife used to be his nanny? That's just the tip of the iceberg. With some facts rather shocking, he somehow knows how to keep life interesting and his fans wildly entertained along the way.
Ethan has denounced monogamy
Despite being married twice, Hawke has some interesting views on monogamy. In an interview with MR PORTER, Hawke went on to explain how people today have "childish" views of monogamy. In the interview, he talked about how humans aren't meant to be monogamous.
He went on to say, "People have such a childish view of monogamy and fidelity. 'He's cheated so he's bad, she's cheated so she's bad,' as opposed to a recognition that our species is not monogamous. ... Sexual fidelity can't be the whole thing you hang your relationship on. If you love somebody you want them to grow, but you don't get to define how that happens. They do" (via E! Online).
Now, studies have proven that monogamy is actually a new concept to humans. In an interview with CNN, Kit Opie, an evolutionary anthropologist from University College London, stated the history of monogamy: "The modern monogamous culture has only been around for just 1,000 years." So, to each their own.
He dropped out of college twice for acting
When it comes to college, every actor is different. Some go to an Ivy League school, like Natalie Portman, while others never give college a thought. For Ethan Hawke, his college story is a bit different than others.
After high school, he was accepted and enrolled at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in Pittsburgh, PA. But, he dropped out within five months to pursue his role in the 1989 drama, Dead Poets Society.
In an interview with The Guardian, Hawke revealed that during his 20s he took a two-year leave from acting. When he left the first time, he attended NYU for English, but dropped out to pursue more acting. He left acting again to write his first novel. He said in the interview that when he left acting, he wanted to test himself to see if acting "was just a phase."
He owns a small island in Nova Scotia, Canada
Hawke has spent nearly the past decade living in New York, but he also has his own island in Nova Scotia. Back in 2001, he purchased the island, located somewhere in Tracadie Harbour. Despite buying it with his wife at the time, actor Uma Thurman, he still finds time to go every year. For one month every summer, Hawke goes to chill and get away from the world on his island. So he spends a third of the summer lounging in his own personal paradise.
The island is almost nine acres, and has a lot for the actor to chill with. The island possesses road access from a 60-meter land bridge, an historic farmhouse, and a new cottage built in the 1990s (via Nova Scotia Buzz). You know you've made it when you have your own island that you use for vacations.
He's a NYT bestselling novelist
As a child, before becoming an actor, Ethan Hawke wanted to be a writer. Along with becoming an actor, Hawke became a critically-acclaimed writer, as well. He's written not one, not two, but four entire novels (via Amazon). Back in 1996, he published his first novel, The Hottest State, a romance surrounding the love and heartbreak of a young couple. Ten years later, he even wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation for his novel. Eight years after his first novel, he released his second piece, Ash Wednesday, a NYT bestselling romance novel.
Next, he released a metaphysical fiction novel called Rules for a Knight. Then, in February, 2021, he released his latest novel, A Bright Ray of Darkness. The novel follows the life of a Shakespearean actor while his marriage is crumbling.
Imagine being both an Academy Award-nominated actor and NYT bestselling author. Truthfully, it's the epitome of career goals.
Robin Williams helped Hawke's career take off
Dead Poet's Society was Ethan Hawke's breakout role, and, like anyone, he was scared. Not only that, but he thought Robin Williams hated him!
"I really wanted to be a serious actor. I had read Stanislavsky and I had what was supposed to be in my pockets and I really wanted to be in character, and I really didn't want to laugh. The more I didn't laugh, the more insane he got. He would make fun of [me]. ... So I thought he hated me because he would constantly lay into me." (via CinemaBlend).
Luckily, that wasn't the case. After filming Dead Poets Society, Hawke got a call from Williams' agent, who said Williams told him to sign Hawke right away because "he's going to be somebody" (via Mental Floss).
Honestly, that warms my heart so much.