Ethan Hawke and Sydney Sweeney Reveal the Truth About Acting: “The Joy Is Completely Losing Yourself”
For anyone dreaming of becoming an actor, the path can feel mysterious, intimidating, and uncertain. But in a candid conversation in Variety between veteran actor Ethan Hawke and breakout star Sydney Sweeney, the craft is stripped down to its core truth: acting isn’t about fame, perfection, or being fearless — it’s about losing yourself in the work.
Hawke, who has spent more than 40 years building a career across film, television, and theater, speaks with the calm clarity of someone who has seen every side of the industry. Sweeney, fresh off physically transforming herself for Christy, meets him with the hunger and intensity of an actor who knows exactly why she does this.
Despite their age difference, they connect instantly over the same thing: the feeling that happens when acting stops being about you.
Acting Isn’t About You — And That’s the Point
Early in the conversation, Hawke puts words to something many actors feel but struggle to explain. He tells Sweeney that the best moments in acting are rare — but unmistakable.
“The joy is completely losing yourself. Acting, at its best, is not about you at all.”
That line perfectly captures the heart of their discussion — and the essence of becoming an actor.
For aspiring performers, this idea can be freeing. Acting isn’t about controlling how you look, sound, or are perceived. It’s about letting go. When actors stop protecting themselves and start serving the character, something real happens.
Sweeney embodies that philosophy in Christy, a biopic about boxer Christy Martin. She didn’t just prepare — she surrendered. She trained twice a day, gained 35 pounds, embraced bruises and exhaustion, and even suffered a concussion during filming. For her, the physical toll wasn’t something to fear — it was proof she was all in.
“I will do anything,” she told the director before being cast. “I will lose myself.”
Becoming an Actor Means Taking Dares
Throughout the conversation, Hawke returns to the idea of risk. Acting, he explains, is about daring to look foolish, daring to fail, daring to go too far.
He recalls advice from directors like Richard Linklater: do a take where you do everything you’re worried might be wrong. Those takes — the “crazy” ones — often reveal something honest.
Sweeney echoes this when talking about her role on Euphoria. Playing Cassie required emotional abandon. She had to stop judging her choices and trust her instincts, even when they felt extreme.
For aspiring actors, this is a crucial lesson: growth doesn’t come from playing it safe. It comes from committing fully, even when you’re unsure.
The Emotional Aftermath No One Talks About
Another powerful insight from their conversation is what happens after a role ends.
Sweeney describes the strange emptiness she felt when filming wrapped. After months of total immersion, saying goodbye to a character felt like a loss. She stood in front of the mirror and wondered if she’d ever experience something that meaningful again.
Hawke understands this deeply. He points out that actors are often asked how they “get into character,” but rarely how they let one go. Over time, he’s learned to keep the qualities he admires in the characters he plays — and consciously shed the darker ones.
This process, he explains, is part of how acting shapes you as a human being, not just a performer.
Why This Matters for Aspiring Actors
If you’re trying to become an actor, this conversation offers a grounding truth:
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be willing to lose yourself.
Acting isn’t about chasing approval or avoiding mistakes. It’s about commitment, curiosity, and courage — showing up fully and taking the dare, even when it scares you.
Or, as Hawke’s words quietly remind us:
“The joy is completely losing yourself.”
And that may be the clearest definition of acting there is.
If you want, I can:
- Turn this into a Project Casting blog post
- Pull short motivational quotes for social media
- Rewrite it as a “How to Become an Actor” lesson
- Create an Instagram carousel for aspiring actors
Just say the word 🎭
