Ethan Hawke’s colleague from Training Day, Denzel Washington, once remarked that Hawke ‘didn’t deserve’ an Oscar for his performance in the 2001 crime drama.
In the 74th Academy Awards, Hawke, now 55, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Competing against notable actors such as Jon Voight, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Sir Ian McKellen, he eventually lost to Jim Broadbent for his role in Iris directed by Richard Eyre.
The Texas-born actor later earned three more Oscar nominations: in 2005 and 2014 for Best Adapted Screenplay and in 2015, once again for Best Supporting Actor.
Meanwhile, his Training Day co-star, Washington, currently 70, won the Best Actor award at the 2002 ceremony, marking his second Oscar win after earning Best Supporting Actor for Glory in 1990.
However, the Highest 2 Lowest alumnus later revealed that he didn’t think it was Hawke’s time for such recognition.
Discussing Washington’s words and his nomination experiences, he shared with CBS Sunday Morning’s Tracy Smith: “I saw the whole thing as a victory lap.
“I knew that if not for the great light of Denzel’s performance, nobody would have even noticed me. So I was amused. I was nominated against Ian McKellen for Gandalf. Greatest performance in cinema history. He didn’t win either.
“Another time I was nominated against Robert Duvall. One of my favourite actors and he didn’t win either. You take this for what it is.”
He added: “Denzel said something to me that I hope I am not paraphrasing. But the idea is that you don’t want to win now; you’re too young.
“It’ll kill your drive. You don’t deserve it yet. Earn it… By the time you get it, you want to earn it.”
The Black Phone actor noted that Washington advised him to use his status to enhance the prestige of the award, rather than just elevating his own status.
“Gotcha. I hear you loud and clear. So that keeps you working. Keeps you hungry.”
When questioned whether he is ignoring the ‘Oscar buzz’ surrounding his new film Blue Moon, where he stars as lyricist Lorenz Hart, the actor answered in a reserved manner.
“We live in a culture where it’s really hard to do anything now. You have to hold it in balance and be really grateful to be at this age, doing it this long, and have that conversation even exist,” the Gattaca actor commented.
“The conversation existing is a victory in itself.”
He also mentioned that part of him wants to honor the years of ‘dedication’ he has devoted to his craft and that there was ‘joy’ because of his love for the work on the movie.
For his performance in Blue Moon, Hawke has already been recognized with awards from film critics in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Boston.
He is also a contender for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy award.