Ethan Hawke opens up on physical transformation for broadway role in ‘Blue Moon’

Ethan Hawke is used to stepping into challenging roles. But for his latest film, ‘Blue Moon’, the actor says one small change made a huge difference. Hawke recently opened up about how changing his eye color and shaving his head completely transformed how people treated him while playing legendary Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart.

For the role, Hawke wore brown contact lenses, a shift from his natural blue eyes, and shaved his head to match Hart’s look.

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“It’s funny, I’ve read reviews that cite the prosthetics or a bald cap or all these different things, none of which is there,” he told ‘People’. But he admitted that it was the eyes that truly changed everything.

 

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“The different eye color somehow changed my face dramatically,” Hawke explained. “In a way that I didn’t understand or anticipate. I noticed it right away with my cast mates. Everybody treated me differently.”

Ethan Hawke said the transformation went beyond just his eyes. His height, hair, body language, and voice all contributed to bringing Hart to life. Yet, he insists that the eyes had the biggest impact.

“There were a lot of things that went into creating this character, but I found the eyes the most dramatic,” he added.

The film, directed by Richard Linklater, also stars Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott. Set during the opening night party for the hit show ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘Blue Moon’ follows Hart as he faces both personal and professional challenges. According to the film’s synopsis, Hart confronts “a world that no longer values his talent and the seeming impossibility of love” by the end of the night.

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Hawke admitted that the physical transformation wasn’t easy at home either. “My wife didn’t like it. And I didn’t like that,” he joked. The actor has been married to Ryan since 2008, and the couple shares two children, Clementine, 17, and Indiana, 14. Hawke is also father to Maya, 27, and Levon, 23, from his previous marriage to Uma Thurman.

At a recent Q&A during the Hamptons International Film Festival, Hawke was asked if he ever takes a break from work. Looking at his wife for support, he said, “Sometimes I feel like there is [a break], but then she’ll tell me it lasted, like, two hours. But it’s a dark two hours. I’m restless and like to work and really enjoy it.”

Hawke also spoke about working with Ryan, with whom he runs the production company ‘Under the Influence’.

“One of the things that’s been great about falling in love with a partner and sharing your work is you don’t have to compartmentalize your life,” he said. “Because I love what I do so much, and it’s really hard for me to keep it in a box over there. … It’s really fun to do together. It makes me a lot more productive.”

‘Blue Moon’ will hit select theatres on October 17 before a wider release on October 24.