Ethan Hawke recounts the memories of walking his daughter, Maya Hawke, down the aisle.

The actor looked back at that sentimental moment he shared with his daughter last Valentine’s Day as he led her to say “I do” to her husband, Christian Lee Hudson. The proud father gushed with happiness through his words and expressions, looking back at that pivotal moment when his daughter’s marital status changed.

Ethan Hawke often wastes no time sharing details of his fatherhood journey and how he feels about his children’s successes. He previously pulled back the curtains on the effects his fame had on his daughter, Maya.

Ethan Hawke Gets Emotional Discussing Daughter’s Special Day

Hawke spoke about his daughter’s wedding, which took place at New York City’s St. George’s Episcopal Church on Valentine’s Day this year, for the first time publicly. The actor recalled the experience of walking Maya down the aisle as “very powerful.”

He shared his thoughts during an exclusive interview with Page Six at Thursday’s Time 100 Gala 2026, saying that he gets emotional just thinking about the milestone moment for his eldest child. The “Boyhood” actor shares Maya and her younger brother Levon with ex-wife Uma Thurman. He also welcomed two younger daughters, Clementine and Indiana, with his current partner, Ryan Shawhughes Hawke.

“It would be very difficult not to [get emotional], whenever you see your children so happy, it’s probably the most moving thing you could see,” Hawke noted. He also disclosed that he was overjoyed watching his child “loving their life and embracing their life and finding wonderful friends and partners.” Photographs taken on Maya’s special day show the TV star decked up in his suit, wearing a wide smile as he clutched the bride’s bouquet. 

Marriage Has Been A Bed Of Roses For Maya Hawke

Maya previously gushed about her recent union to Hudson, telling outlets that “Love is the best,” a month after she had her nuptials. “I feel so lucky to have found my best friend and to have someone I can tell anything to,” she gleefully added.

The “Stranger Things” star enjoyed her special day with her co-stars, friends, and family, including her mother, Thurman, who was spotted outside the church donning a blue floral dress. Maya and her now-husband were friends for years before deciding to take the friendship to the next level.

They announced their relationship in 2023 with sweet moments of public display of affection, and then sparked engagement whispers two years later.  Speaking further about her months-old marriage, Maya said, “It makes something like getting married feel like, ‘Oh, of course.’ I’m very, very, very lucky, so I’m really happy.” 

The ‘Stranger Things’ Star Kept Early Romantic Ordeals Secret From Her Dad

Three years ago, Maya made a guest appearance on “Watch What Happens Live!” with Bryan Cranston, with host Andy Cohen, where she made viewers and her father gasp with stories from her teenage years. As reported by The Blast, she recalled that she went on a date with plans to have her sexual debut and ended up lying to her dad.

The singer recalled that she got into trouble with Hawke because she lied to him, using just about the worst excuse she could think of at the time. “I lied. I said I was going to therapy and I really went to lose my virginity. I can’t believe I just said that. My father was very upset,” the 27-year-old recalled on the show. 

Hawke, who was worried about his daughter’s whereabouts, kept asking for details about where she went that evening, and she recalled giving him “a very hard time” as he tried playing detective. In response to his questions about her location and movement, Maya asked her father how she was supposed to have secrets if she could not tell lies. Reportedly, Hawke was impressed with his daughter’s upfront yet shady answer.

The Filmmaker Recalled The Adverse Effect Of Fame On Maya

Last year, Hawke wore his heart on his sleeve as he looked back on the effect of heavy fame on Maya’s childhood. He did not hold back admitting that during her younger days, there were parts of her life that were really hard and complicated, adding that he had regrets on her behalf for some of the things the singer went through.

Having both parents as huge entertainment stars, despite their short-lived marriage, took a toll on the “Do Revenge” star. While he did not explicitly reveal what parts of childhood Maya struggled with, he stressed that being a child in the spotlight came with a set of challenges the public is often oblivious to. 

The Blast reported that Hawke recalled times when the realization dawned on him that his daughter’s childhood was weighing on her in ways he could not fully fix. With time, Hawke noticed that she found a safe space in her creativity bubble. He reflected on how much she naturally enjoyed dancing, singing, and watercoloring, and he knew without a doubt that Maya would “be an artist.”

Ethan Hawke Said He Married Maya’s Mother For The Wrong Reasons

The actor previously looked back at his younger days, weighing his decisions, and revealed that his marriage to Thurman was not the right step at the time. The former power couple met in 1997 on the set of “Gattaca” and said their vows the following year. The union ended in 2003 shortly after welcoming their two kids, Maya and Levon, with wide speculation that Hawke cheated on the “Kill Bird” star with the kids’ nanny, Ryan Shawhughes.

After their divorce was finalized in 2005, the “Sinister” star went on to marry and build a family with Ryan. As reported by The Blast in a previous release, the actor noted, “Success, when you’re young, is really overwhelming. The world felt out of control. And I wanted to stop it from spinning so fast. I thought marriage would decrease my variables or something. I was absolutely wrong,”  

The iconic TV star also admitted that he ignored profound marital advice from mature actors, which would have kept him from the mistakes he made later on in life. Speaking further, Hawke, who married Thurman when he was 27 years old, disclosed that he was not ready for a full-time commitment as he was not developed enough to get married at the time.

Hoping Ethan Hawke and Maya have more memorable moments!