In 2025, Sydney Sweeney and Ethan Hawke participated in Variety and CNN’s Actors on Actors program, where they discuss approaches to characters and changes in the creative process. In this episode they share how they manage to transform themselves, particularly when portraying real figures – Sweeney played boxer Christy Martin, and Hawke portrayed composer Lorenz Hart.
In the interview, Sweeney recalled an on-set injury – a concussion – and how it affected her work on the role. Hawke supported his colleague and emphasized the importance of safety during filming.
Both admitted that transformation is not only about appearance, but also a way to dive into the character, explore the hero’s motivation, and meet the audience’s expectations. Their conversation demonstrates how seriously they take the process and how each role influences their creative paths.
The full conversation can be watched in CNN episodes and in Variety materials, available on the respective platforms.
Safety and Deep Immersion into the Character
In the discussion, the participants talk about how transformation involves not only appearance but also a deep immersion into the character’s motivations and inner drives. Such reflections underscore their serious approach to each role and their impact on future creative projects.
Such conversations emphasize that for Sydney Sweeney and Ethan Hawke, not only the image on screen matters, but also the work on details that make the character live and convincing for the viewer.
