Ethan Hawke told Drew Barrymore he had hoped they might date, recalling parties in the 1990s where he wondered whether they would finally meet. The actors discussed their missed connection on the 16 October 2026 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, their first meeting in person.
Hawke said he had been aware of Barrymore throughout his life, and she responded that she felt the same way. He then expressed surprise that their paths had never crossed romantically. Barrymore reacted with mock frustration, questioning why he had not approached her years earlier.
A Missed Connection in the 1990s
The actors said they had been aware of each other's careers for decades but had never met in person. Both began working on screen while young, and each became associated with some of the most recognisable films of the 1990s.
Hawke recalled going to parties during that decade and hoping Barrymore might be among the guests. His recollection described an imagined opportunity rather than a date or a relationship that actually took place.
Barrymore questioned why he had not telephoned her. She joked that women at the time would have welcomed the chance to date him. Hawke explained that he had wanted any meeting to happen naturally, without making a direct approach.
Their exchange drew laughter, but neither actor described a previous romance. Hawke spoke about his own hopes at the time; Barrymore's response was playful rather than confirmation that she had shared those feelings in the 1990s.
Why Hawke Never Made the Call
Hawke described himself as someone who preferred to play it cool. He said he had imagined a chance meeting could lead to something, but it never happened. Barrymore pointed out that waiting had achieved nothing.
The two ultimately met on Barrymore's daytime programme, decades after the period Hawke described. The show's official video, published on 16 October 2026, identifies the appearance as their first opportunity to meet.
Hawke appeared on the programme while promoting his television series The Lowdown. The conversation also turned to his career and the long period during which the actors knew each other's work without having met.
Two Familiar Faces of 1990s Cinema
Barrymore first became widely known as a child performer in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Her later credits included the romantic comedy The Wedding Singer and Never Been Kissed. She continued acting while building a career as a producer and, later, a daytime television host.
Hawke appeared in Dead Poets Society before taking roles in Reality Bites and Before Sunrise. His screen career subsequently expanded across film, television and theatre, with both independent productions and major studio releases. He was nominated for five Academy Awards, including a Best Actor nomination in 2025 for Blue Moon.
Barrymore and Hawke later married other partners. Barrymore married Jeremy Thomas in 1994 and Tom Green in 2001. She later married art consultant Will Kopelman in 2012; they divorced in 2016 and share two daughters.
Hawke married Uma Thurman in 1998. They have two children, Maya and Levon, and divorced in 2005. He married Ryan Shawhughes in 2008; they have two daughters.
