News | Entertainment
16 Feb 2026 8:40
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
     15 Feb: Heather McComb will remember James Van Der Beek as being "innocent, kind and pure of heart"
     15 Feb: Margaret Qualley felt "overwhelmed" when she began her acting career
     15 Feb: Bunnie Xo has been wowed by Jelly Roll's 300-lb. weight loss
     15 Feb: Jesy Nelson no longer has "time" to make music
     15 Feb: Lena Dunham replaced her friends with a "posse" of cats after moving to London
     15 Feb: Camila Cabello has revealed "it's taken a year" for her hair to recover after she dyed it blonde
     15 Feb: Kylie Jenner has applauded her sister Kim Kardashian for "nailing" the new SKIMS cotton collection
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Middle distance runner Sam Ruthe has been unable to replicate his stunning mile earlier this month at another indoor event in North Carolina More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Belief the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement could be as important as the China deal More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    Belief the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement could be as important as the China deal 8:07

    Cricket:
    Frustration for skier Alice Robinson after missing a medal at the Winter Olympics 7:57

    General:
    Today in History, February 16: Steven Bradbury's Winter Olympic Games golden miracle at Salt Lake City in 2002 7:57

    Law and Order:
    A teenager's death on the road highlights the risks associated with young and inexperienced drivers 7:47

    International:
    What is FAFO parenting and is it good for kids? 7:37

    Rugby League:
    James Fisher-Harris is asking for league's NRL all-star fixture between the Maori and Indigenous Australians to remain 7:37

    Business:
    Even bigger bills at the supermarket could be on the way 7:27

    Soccer:
    Treacherous Wellington weather has assisted the visiting Central Coast Mariners in a 2-1 A-League win over the Phoenix women 7:07

    General:
    Matt Graham wins dual moguls bronze at the 2026 Winter Olympics 7:07

    Law and Order:
    Police say it could take some time to formally identify a body, washed up on Mahia's Mahanga Beach, near Wairoa 6:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd