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Ethan Hawke is looking back on his early acting days and remembering a time when he and Billy Crudup were competing for the same roles long before they became friends.
During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show' on 4th February, the 55-year-old actor explained that Crudup, now 57, is a close friend today, but that was not always the case. Early in their careers, the two actors constantly crossed paths at auditions.
Ethan Hawke on Giving an Audition
Ethan Hawke shared that they seemed to audition for everything at the same time. As a young actor, he said, it felt like everyone competed, and it took years to realise there was room for everyone to find their own path and succeed in different ways.
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Image Courtesy: Getty
He recalled repeatedly seeing Billy Crudup at auditions and often having to wait outside the room while listening to him perform first. Hawke admitted it was frustrating because Billy Crudup was incredibly talented and consistently impressive.
Role Ethan Hawke Regrets Losing
Ethan Hawke also remembered turning down a role in a Tom Stoppard play because he was committed to a film. The part ultimately went to Crudup, and soon after, Crudup's career took off in a major way. Ethan Hawke joked that he sometimes wishes he could go back in time, take the role, and stop his friend's rise to fame.
Billy Crudup went on to star in the 1995 Broadway debut of Stoppard's 'Arcadia' and later returned for the 2011 revival in a different role. The two actors eventually worked together in Stoppard's 2006 trilogy 'The Coast of Utopia,' where both earned Tony Award nominations. Crudup won the award for his performance.
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Image Courtesy: People
Ethan Hawke is currently enjoying major career momentum himself. He recently earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater's 2025 film 'Blue Moon.' He has also received previous Oscar nominations for writing and supporting acting roles, further cementing his place in Hollywood.
