I just started watching Stranger Things last week. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I am not a fan of horror, so I’d stayed away, but finally caved. I am really glad that I did. I’m about halfway through the third season and am enjoying it. One of the additions to the cast this year is Ethan Hawke’s daughter, Maya. Without revealing anything, I’ll say that I love her character and the relationships that she’s formed with other characters on the show. I’ve read reactions online from others who feel similarly. Maya’s biggest fan, though, is probably her dad. He posted a really sweet message on Instagram, gushing about Maya being “the real thing”:
Just days after the third season of Stranger Things began streaming on Netflix, [Ethan Hawke] shared a sweet post praising his daughter Maya, 20, for her role in the series.
“Some of you may have missed her in last year’s BBC production of Little Women. Some of you may have missed her work at Juilliard. I know many missed out on numerous high school productions — heck I even missed a few and I’m her father,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a promotional video of Maya in character as Robin, a teenager who works at a sailor-themed ice cream parlor with Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), and ends up helping the Hawkins crew in their fight against evil.
“Some of you may know her music, some may not. But Ladies & Gentleman, get to know MAYA HAWKE. She’s the real thing,” the actor, 48, added of his eldest child with ex-wife Uma Thurman.
The sweet post quickly caught the eyes of several of the actor’s celebrity followers — including one of Maya’s new costars.
“She sure is!! AMAZING!!!” wrote Andy Cohen, adding several lightening bolt emojis.
Agreeing with the actor’s praise, Big Little Lies star Laura Dern added, “Yes, she is!”
Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in the hit Netflix series, also commented on the post, writing, “Yay Dad!”
Like I said, I really like Maya’s character, and think she deserves the praise she’s getting. Celebitchy said that she really looks like Uma. I think that Maya also sounds a bit like her, too. People reported that Maya had explained of her character, “throughout the season she became more and more like me. I bring a lot of energy, maybe from nerves or something, but they kind of tapped into that and then started to write the character more along those lines,” I think that was something that was discussed on Beyond Stranger Things, too: Not about Maya’s character, since the show was filmed after Season 2, but that the show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have paid attention to the actors and so some of their traits have been written into the characters that they play. The Duffer Brothers (as they are collectively known) also kept around characters after their initial appearances because of the actors’ talent and have developed certain characters in ways that they hadn’t initially planned. I’m not looking forward to finishing this season and having to wait for Season 4. I just hope Maya’s character is around for a while!
photos credit: WENN and Netflix press
Oh I didn’t realise she is his daughter. She’s one of my favourite characters this season!
I didn’t realise either and I love her character too. She’s been a great addition.
She’s been reminding me of someone and I couldn’t figure it out. I don’t think it’s Uma, but I can now see the strong resemblance. I really wish I could figure out who she reminds me of.
A really great actress! I wish her all the best.
Also, finished watching season 3 today. I don’t want to wait for season 4!!!!!!
Is there going to *be* a Season 4? For some reason I thought this was going to be it. (Just finished #7 last night.)
And yes, Robin is a great addition to the lineup. Although, down the road, when more people have watched the season, I have some questions I want to pose but don’t want to spoil things for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to see the show yet.
Yes there’s meant to be a fourth and final season. I would also like to discuss it too. Will have to wait until there’s a post with a spoiler warning so we can discuss!!!
Ohh I’m only on episode 4… Ahhhh can’t wait to finish!
@Lozface I think she looks so much like Villainelle from Killing Eve. Loved her character too.
I though she was the daughter of the redhead from allymcbeal.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/38702878017805791/
Its insane to me how much they look/acted alike.
Yeah, her character fit in really well with the rest, and she did a great job.
Best season yet!
I loved her character!!! She and Erica brought life to season three. Maya’s laugh is infectious, and she’s a very good actress..
I kept saying who is that girl she looks and sounds so familiar. Her voice especially was getting to me because I just couldn’t place it, but I finally googled and it made sense, she sounds almost exactly like her mother!!! genetics are cool:) she did a great job!
Me too! I kept thinking, who does she remind me of??!! As I was watching, I figured out that it was Uma Thurman, but I hadn’t confirmed it until I saw this post. She is really amazing – guessing this is going to be a breakout role for her.
When you close your eyes she sounds exactly like uma in truth about cats and dogs!
Uma posted about her also, proud parents.
My favorite Maya story, is when she gave Uma’s baby about five names and told Uma, since this is the last child you’re having, you better use all the names.
Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altaluna Florence Thurman-Busson, known as Luna.
Ha, that’s so cute.
I haven’t watched Season 3 yet so I’m semi-skimming the stories and comments to try to avoid spoilers, lol. But fro these photos I see she looks just like Uma, lovely.
I was a teen in the 80s and no show gets the ethos and aesthetic, in all its hideous glory, better than Stranger Things. Imho.
I was 12 years old in the sumer of 1985, and holy crap, ST nails those looks. ST3 wasn’t perfect, but very enjoyable!
I love him.
@croatian – me too!
She was a delight to watch in Stranger Things and Little Women.
I haven’t watched Stranger Things but I thought she was quite good in Little Women.
God I hated maya’s character
I had no idea she was Ethan Hawke & Uma Thurman’s daughter!!! She really is a great new character. And, now that I know who her parents are, I can certainly see it.
Awww. Proud daddy moments are wonderful.
I loved the addition of Robin. Maya was great and she sounds so much like her mom. When I see her with Uma, I think she favors Ethan and vice versus. Although I enjoyed Season 3 very much, I hope Season 4 gets everyone back together.
Haven’t started the season yet, but my god she’s adorable. She’s a really really pretty girl – I can definitely see the Uma, but I see Ethan as well.
She was the highlight of the season for me. Talented actress. Not the ethereal unusual beauty that her mother is, but that’s ok. She has her own thing.
sigh…. why couldn’t i have rich and famous parents.
She was a great addition to the cast this year, I love how smart her character is. I had to look up who she was and then I was like, omg of course! She really looks like their daughter.
I enjoyed this season of stranger things more than I thought I would. It was really good.
She’s a great addition! I haaaate how much more we’re seeing of tiny mustachioed Dacre Montgomery though. Thought he had a punchable face last year, it was confirmed from my publicist friends from my brief foray into that industry that he’s not great in real life either, and now at least in the first half of season 3 I’m seeing more of him than just about anyone else. More of this girl, less of tiny mustache please.
I was wondering why Dacre Montgomery was by himself in all the interviews I’ve seen and why the rest of the cast are in groups as part of the press junket.
She was great, brag away.
I had no idea who she was. She was really great in Stranger Things! Her scenes were probably the most enjoyable ones of the whole season, honestly. I’ve been underwhelmed with this show since last season and in my opinion they should have let season 1 stand alone it was so so good. Her character and acting were a wonderful addition to season 3.
Saw her Little Women and she needed to go back to acting class.
I couldn’t watch ‘Little Women’ because of her — I agree with Flying Fish. But she was great in ‘Stranger Things 3’!
I loved her character and she seems so sweet in real life too. I’ve just finished watching the new season and can’t wait for the next one. Hopefully the Duffer Brothers will end at in the right time, instead of dragging it just because of views.
I read the next season is going to be the last.
I was trying to figure out who she reminded me of when I was watching the show last week and just ended up googling to find out lol. She’s the perfect mix of her parents looks wise and her voice is so similar to Uma’s it’s crazy! She (Robin) really is one of the best characters this season (which is great by the way).
She was GREAT in stranger things. We finished yesterday and I ended up loving this season. Thought it was much better than Season 2. I agree with an above poster about having a post with spoilers in it for discussion.
I thought it started out a little bumpy, but then found its footing and the story lines clicked really well in the end.
Also, I said to my husband, I want to hear that convo – “so Steve and Robin, you guys are going to spend an entire season running around in sailor suits, is that cool?”
I heard some months ago that she had been cast & my first thought was. . . . nepotism. Having seen her performance, though. . . well, she was wonderful. I would have cast her myself, tbh.
From a career perspective, she got VERY lucky with this break. It seems to have been a break out role for her. Some actors never get that.
Quite nice to see Ethan so proud.
To anyone who is still making their way through: take your time enjoying Season 3. Eight episodes are not a lot, really. . . (I went as slow as I could, but I finished it in 3 days. . . )
@xo – I know! I was so sad it was over and made my husband start rewatching season 1 again lol.
I thought she was a really good addition and loved that they expanded Erica’s role…that little girl is hysterical! As usual, they nailed the feel of the 80’s, but I did not enjoy the writing this season. It was a struggle for me to finish.
I can’t stand Hopper this season and finding the whole thing a bit too loud and screamy.
Ugh- all the relationship drama filler. Bad writing, indeed.
I spent the whole season wracking my brains trying to figure out why she looked familiar. And then it turns out that she’s Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman’s daughter! I did not realize this at first, and I’m glad I didn’t, because I thought she was really great on the show. Loved her character. Loved the lovely little plot twist w/ her character. Loved her w/ Joe Keery/Steve Harrington, their shenanigans with Dustin and Erica. I had some issues with this season overall, but she was a highlight all the way.
Those three characters (Robin.Steve/Erica) were the stars!
We finally started watching season 3 last night and my husband and I both did the same thing at the suggestion of a coworker of mine–close your eyes when she speaks and you will totally hear Uma’s voice. It’s amazing!
I also laughed because years ago my older sister worked at a coffee shop in Union Square in NYC and used to encounter all kinds of celebrities. I remember her telling me that Uma came in with her little girl and that she was throwing sugar packets all over the place. Funny to me that this is the sugar throwing girl. 😊
I liked her character too but how is Ethan hawke your dad and u don’t have dad issues? I think that would be inevitable unfortunately
um…i dunno…maybe he loved and supported her unconditionally? also possible she has a great mom who despite issues with her ex didn’t bad mouth him to their children?
I loved her character in season 3—she was great!
I have to say as a teen of the 80s, they really nailed it. From the interiors of the houses (the “leftover” 70s decor mixed with “newer” trends), the fashion! Nancy’s dresses, and the boys in their shorts! OMGoodness, they were so gangly looking–it was the perfect in-between. All the way to the stores in the mall — the small movie theatre, Sam Goody’s, the old Gap logo, Waldenbooks, Hot Dog on a Stick. . .good job all around for accuracy.
The monster this season was sooooooo good and scary! RUUUUN!! RUUUUUN! 🙂
I read yesterday on TVLine (I think) that the Duffer Bros have planned for SIX seasons total. . . so I don’t know how that will all work out.
AND LAST. . .
Can we all agree that Billy’s hair was just gross? They couldn’t get a better wig for that guy? His weird, stiff mullet thing was just odd–especially coming from California. He should have had either “Steve” like hair, or he should have had proper “metal” hair — long, curly and sprayed to high heaven.
I haven’t watched the new season yet, but she looks just like her mother!
Everything about her – but especially her voice and face – remind me of her mother. It’s a natural charisma on the screen.
So excited to watch her grow as an actress. I also can’t believe she is a celebrity child that doesn’t seem like a privileged a-hole!
She’s very good on the show.
I have a feeling that Maya is the next It Girl. I believe and hope her parents will protect her from the gross Hollywood predators. She was by far my favorite character this season of Stranger Things! I had no idea who she was until now. She is talent and not a bad actress getting roles because of nepotism (Dakota Johnson).
Ethan Hawke looks really hot in that picture.
She sounds JUST like her mama! And in some scenes, she really looks just like her too!
That’s what I was struck by while watching ST — she sounds JUST LIKE UMA.