Actor and writer Ethan Hawke is grateful he didn’t land the lead role in the 1997 film Titanic, a part ultimately played by Leonardo DiCaprio, according to People.
“I doubt I would have managed that level of fame as well as Leo,” Hawke admitted.
DiCaprio took on the role of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s 1997 historical epic about the Titanic’s 1912 disaster.
He acted alongside Kate Winslet. Following the film’s success, DiCaprio soared to greater fame, leading to roles in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can, 2004’s The Aviator, and 2006’s Blood Diamond, the latter two earning him Oscar nominations.
Before the release of this Academy Award-winning film, Hawke had already appeared in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, and Before Sunrise.
Last year, Hawke shared the wise advice he received from his Training Day co-star Denzel Washington after his 2002 Academy Awards loss, highlighting Washington’s unique perspective on accolades.
During an appearance on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, Hawke recounted Washington’s view that awards should enhance the award’s prestige rather than define an individual’s worth.
Reflecting on his Oscar loss for Best Supporting Actor to Jim Broadbent, Hawke expressed gratitude for the honor of being in such esteemed company.
He noted that sitting beside Washington and being nominated alongside actors like Ian McKellen made him feel victorious regardless of the outcome.
Hawke also lauded Washington’s unmatched talent, comparing him to Babe Ruth in the acting world. He emphasized Washington’s dedication to his art and the inspiring effect of watching his process on younger actors like himself.
In 1997, Hawke starred with his then-wife, Uma Thurman, in Gattaca. The couple married in 1998, and Thurman, now 55, filed for divorce in 2004, finalizing it in 2005.
The former couple has a daughter, Maya, 27, and a son, Levon, 23.
