Ethan Hawke

Cinema naturally does it.

The stories I gravitate to, particularly in the films with Richard Linklater, seem to be, I often think, Father Time is the main character of all the films we've done together.

Yeah.

Well, you're just hitting me with some real lightweight questions.

Yeah, you're welcome.

Well, it's arresting for anybody.

You know, I think when you get over the age of 50, it is.

I feel it very powerfully.

I feel a desire to work.

I don't know if you feel that, but I feel I'm aware of how much of the road has already been walked, and I'm very conscious of... I find myself often thinking, how old was Jeff Bridges when he did True Grit?

Am I older than him now?

Am I younger than him?

How old was Peter Weir when he directed Dead Poets Society?

I'm older than he was now.

I thought he was an old man.

I'm very aware of how many more years I might have to contribute, and I don't like wasting time anymore.

I'm very aware of how many people mentored me and cared for me, and am I doing that for others?

Am I meeting my responsibilities as a citizen, not just as a father, which is obvious and omnipresent in my life?

Those questions are on my mind all the time.

Then there's this other voice, which is, am I enjoying my life?