News | Entertainment
8 Feb 2026 16:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Maya Hawke knows her famous parents have “made it easy” for her to become an actress – but thinks she’ll be “kicked out” of Hollywood if she “sucks”

    The 22-year-old actress is the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and has said she’s “grateful” for the kickstart her parents have given her career


    But Maya doesn’t think she’ll be able to get by on her parents’ names forever, as she believes Hollywood will kick her out if she doesn’t put in some stellar performances.

    She said: "I'm very grateful for the fact that they made it so easy for me to do the thing that I love. I think I'll get a couple chances on their name and then if I suck, I'll get kicked out of the kingdom. And that's what should happen. So I'm just going to try not to suck."

    The ‘Stranger Things’ star also insisted there was “no moment” in which she realised her love for acting because she has been immersed in it for her entire life.

    She added: "There was no moment. I was always just doing school plays and acting camp over the summer. I guess it clicked for me that I wanted to do it professionally was when I realized that there were no school plays for adults. The happiest place in the world for me was on set or on stage.

    "I feel so lucky to get to participate. I love this business. I love movies. I love art. I love it so much. I would have done lights on Mainstream. I would have done catering."

    And Maya praised her father as a “teacher”, after the pair worked together on an episode of Showtime's ‘The Good Lord Bird’ last year.

    Admitting they had been thinking about the collaboration “forever”, she told People magazine: "But we're always working together in one way or another. Whether it's me calling him being like, 'How do I do this? I need help.' Or him helping me with audition tapes. There's a real network of communication there. I really see him as my teacher more than almost anything else."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     07 Feb: Khloe Kardashian has "absolutely no fear about death"
     07 Feb: Dove Cameron was "celibate" before meeting her fiance
     07 Feb: Chris Pratt treats every day like Valentine's Day
     07 Feb: Jesse Eisenberg is a "daily patron" of the New York Public Library
     07 Feb: Jennifer Garner once bit a portion of a stunt performer's ear off
     07 Feb: Nick Jonas' daughter needed to be resuscitated shortly after she was born
     07 Feb: Catherine, Princess of Wales has shared a heartfelt message to commemorate World Cancer Day (04.02.26)
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Highlanders are keeping their fingers crossed for Fabian Holland as they prepare to find out more about the All Blacks lock's injury More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Residents in Hawke's Bay's Kai-rakau have entered a second consecutive month of level 4 water restrictions More...



     Today's News

    Christchurch:
    New Zealanders hoped never to see the Christchurch terrorist again. Now he wants to appeal his sentence 16:27

    Rugby:
    The Highlanders are keeping their fingers crossed for Fabian Holland as they prepare to find out more about the All Blacks lock's injury 16:17

    Cricket:
    A cricket-crazy Indian crowd is a double-edged sword for captain Mitchell Santner and the Black Caps 16:17

    Business:
    Residents in Hawke's Bay's Kai-rakau have entered a second consecutive month of level 4 water restrictions 15:27

    Golf:
    World number one Scottie Scheffler is lurking at the PGA Tour's latest stop in Phoenix 15:07

    Rugby:
    New Zealand's Paul Coll has won into the last eight at squash's Windy City Open in Chicago 14:37

    Business:
    Many businesses across the country could have unknowingly have a gender pay gap 14:17

    General:
    Winter Olympics 2026 quick guide: What to watch on Day 2, Sunday, February 8 14:17

    International:
    Savannah Guthrie indicates she will pay ransom for return of her mother in video message to apparent kidnappers 14:07

    Environment:
    State Highway Two through the Waioweka Gorge, which connects Gisborne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty, re-opens tomorrow under special conditions 14:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd