Ethan Hawke Reflects on Humiliating Public Split from Uma Thurman

Ethan Hawke has spoken openly about the intense and 'dangerous' intimacy he experienced while working with ex-wife Uma Thurman on the set of the 1997 film Gattaca, likening falling in love on set to playing Spin the Bottle and describing it as a thrilling but disconnected experience from everyday life. The couple married in 1998 and divorced in 2005 after their relationship deteriorated amid rumors of Hawke's infidelity with their children's nanny, Ryan Shawhughes, whom he later married. Hawke described the public nature of their breakup as humiliating, even when the media coverage was positive, and admitted he was depressed after their split. Thurman, who shares two children with Hawke, has emphasized the importance of maintaining peace for their children and refraining from criticism. Both have moved on with their lives, with Hawke reflecting on the fleeting nature of parenthood and Thurman revealing that the divorce affected her self-esteem deeply. Their relationship remains a complex chapter in their lives, with Hawke acknowledging the risks involved in romantic relationships formed in the high-intensity environment of filmmaking.