Ethan Hawke on Portraying Legendary Lyricist Lorenz Hart in ‘Blue Moon’: ‘This Is a Role That Is Outside My Comfort Zone, but I Know This Guy’

Ethan Hawke on Portraying Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon”

Ethan Hawke’s portrayal of celebrated lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater’s film Blue Moon has garnered some of the strongest reviews of his long career. The four-time Oscar nominee was honored as Variety’s 2025 Virtuoso at the Miami Film Festival GEMS.

Since appearing in the 1989 best picture nominee Dead Poets Society, Hawke has remained a defining presence in American cinema. His creative work spans acting and writing, including his Oscar-nominated performance in Training Day (2001) and his Academy Award-nominated screenplay for Before Sunset (2004).

Beyond Acting: A Multifaceted Career

In addition to his festival recognition, Hawke continues to maintain an intense workload. He appears in Hulu’s The Low Down, directed the documentary Highway 99: A Double Album about country legend Merle Haggard, and has the horror sequel Black Phone 2 now in theaters.

Finding the Heart of “Blue Moon”

Hawke’s interpretation of Lorenz Hart shows deep emotional nuance and restraint, marking an introspective milestone in his career. The project itself had a lengthy development, taking nearly a decade from initial conception to completion.

“Rick sent me the script 10 years ago. He said back then, ‘We’re not ready,’ meaning I’m not ready,” Hawke recalls.

Now, his moving performance suggests that he—and the story—arrived precisely when they were meant to.

Author’s Summary

Ethan Hawke’s soulful portrayal of Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon highlights his maturity as both actor and artist, earning widespread acclaim in 2025.

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Variety Variety — 2025-11-02

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