Maya Hawke, born on July 8, 1998, in New York City, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and model who has carved out a distinct place in the entertainment industry.
The daughter of acclaimed actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, she grew up immersed in the world of film and performance, yet her journey reflects a determination to forge her own path.
Despite her famous lineage, Maya has spoken candidly about navigating the pressures of nepotism, emphasizing her commitment to earning roles through hard work and talent.
Her early struggles with dyslexia shaped her educational experience, leading her to change schools frequently before finding a creative haven at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, where her passion for acting took root.
She briefly attended Juilliard but left to pursue her breakout role, marking the start of a multifaceted career that spans acting, music, and modeling.
Siblings
Maya has four siblings, a blend of full and half-siblings from her parents’ subsequent relationships.
Her full brother, Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke, born on January 15, 2002, shares her parents, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, who were married from 1998 to 2005.
Levon, named after Levon Helm of The Band, has followed his sister into acting, appearing in projects like The Crowded Room and The Thicket.
The siblings share a close bond, with Maya describing Levon as her “best friend in the world,” and they’ve supported each other’s careers, notably when Maya attended Levon’s directorial theater debut, Picture Day, in 2024.
Maya also has two half-sisters from her father’s second marriage to Ryan Shawhughes, Clementine Jean Hawke, born in 2008, and Indiana Hawke, born in 2011.
Both have shown early interests in music, with Indiana joining family sing-alongs alongside Maya, Levon, and Clementine during the 2020 lockdown.
Maya’s third half-sister, Luna Thurman-Busson, born in 2012, comes from her mother’s relationship with financier Arpad Busson.
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Career
Hawke’s career began in modeling, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Nena von Schlebrügge, with campaigns for Vogue and Calvin Klein.
However, acting became her true calling, and she debuted as Jo March in the 2017 BBC adaptation of Little Women, a role that required her to leave Juilliard.
Her breakthrough came in 2019 when she joined Stranger Things as Robin Buckley, a sharp-witted, queer teenager whose chemistry with co-star Joe Keery made her a fan favorite.
That same year, she played Flower Child in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, showcasing her ability to hold her own alongside Hollywood heavyweights.
Maya’s filmography has since expanded with roles in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, and her father’s Wildcat, where she portrayed Flannery O’Connor.
Beyond acting, she has pursued music, releasing three albums—Blush (2020), Moss (2022), and Chaos Angel (2024)—which blend folk-pop with introspective lyrics.
Her voice work includes Anxiety in Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and Abyss in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, demonstrating her versatility across mediums.
Accolades
Hawke’s performance in Stranger Things garnered praise from critics and fans, contributing to the show’s ensemble nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
In 2019, she was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Presentation for her role as Robin Buckley, a testament to her impact in the series.
Her work in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was part of the film’s ensemble accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Maya’s music has also resonated, with her debut album Blush receiving positive reviews for its emotional depth, though she has yet to secure major music awards.
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