When the rest of the room opts for a classic black tuxedo, Ethan Hawke reaches for something more considered. At the 32nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on March 1, the 55-year-old actor arrived on the red carpet in a custom Dior ensemble crafted by designer Jonathan Anderson, choosing a sharp structured vest layered over a relaxed shirt. The night’s theme was “Reimagining Hollywood Glamour,” and Hawke seemed to take that brief more literally than most. The result was a look that felt dressed up without feeling stiff, a balance that few men manage to pull off at industry events.
The appearance carried extra weight given what brought him there. Hawke earned a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart in the drama ‘Blue Moon,’ directed by longtime collaborator Richard Linklater. The film, which tells the story of the final night Hart spent with his writing partner Richard Rodgers before Rodgers moved on to a new partnership, found a wide audience after arriving on Netflix. The role required Hawke to inhabit one of the most complicated figures in American songwriting history, a man of enormous talent and profound personal struggle.
Speaking about the grueling stretch of work the film demanded, Hawke did not shy away from the toll it took. “It is true that this last year is one of the hardest working years of my life,” he said in an interview. While the award ultimately went to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in ‘Sinners,’ Hawke remained a major presence in the conversation throughout the evening. His combination of a lived-in career reputation and a genuinely compelling performance made him one of the most discussed nominees of the night.
‘Blue Moon’ is only the latest chapter in one of the most enduring creative partnerships in contemporary cinema. Hawke and Linklater have been working together for more than three decades, beginning with the 1995 romance ‘Before Sunrise’ and continuing through the beloved trilogy that followed. Their latest collaboration features Margaret Qualley as Hawke’s co-star, and the film has been praised for the intimacy and naturalism that have come to define their work together.
Ethan Hawke at the #ActorAwards
— Variety (@Variety) March 2, 2026
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Away from the awards circuit, Hawke continues to maintain one of the most varied careers of any actor working today. His new film ‘The Weight,’ produced by his wife Ryan Hawke, made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. He is also in preparation for another Linklater project called ‘Transcendentalism,’ where he will play the writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson opposite Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac. The scope of that project alone suggests Hawke has no intention of slowing down or playing it safe with his choices.
Genre fans have also welcomed his return in ‘Black Phone 2,’ the sequel to the horror hit in which he played the terrifying villain known as The Grabber. He has additionally taken on a leading role in the FX series ‘The Lowdown,’ further expanding his television presence. Outside of performing, he has continued directing theater productions and is reportedly working on a new novel, adding yet another creative discipline to an already crowded resume.
At 55, Hawke is in a rare position. He carries the credibility of a decades-long body of work without the sense that he is coasting on it. His red carpet appearance at the Actor Awards, unconventional and deliberate, felt like a reflection of that attitude. The Dior vest and relaxed shirt combination was not the safest choice in the room, but it may well have been the most interesting one.
Jonathan Anderson, the designer behind the look, also serves as creative director of Loewe and has become one of the most influential figures in contemporary men’s fashion, known for blurring the line between formal dressing and something more sculptural and unexpected. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, held annually in Los Angeles, are voted on entirely by fellow performers, which many industry insiders consider the most meaningful peer recognition an actor can receive. Lorenz Hart, the real-life figure Hawke portrayed in ‘Blue Moon,’ wrote the lyrics to some of the most beloved standards in the American songbook, including “My Funny Valentine” and “The Lady Is a Tramp,” yet spent much of his life battling severe depression and alcoholism before dying at just 48.
What do you think of Ethan Hawke’s bold style choice at the Actor Awards — and his performance in ‘Blue Moon’? Share your thoughts in the comments.
