Maya Hawke, Lewis Pullman share parenting advice that shaped their acting careers

Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman are leaning on more than just their acting skills for their latest film; they’re drawing on lessons from their famous parents.

The two stars of the forthcoming fantastical rom-com Wishful Thinking spoke to People at the SXSW Film & TV Festival about how their families shaped their approach to life in the spotlight.

Lewis, son of actor Bill Pullman and professional dancer Tamara Hurwitz, says he admires his father’s stoicism and ability to separate his personal life from his career. 

“My dad leads through example. He doesn’t really force feed mantras down my throat, which I think has been very helpful,” he said. 

“The lessons he’s provided are priceless.” Pullman also has siblings in the entertainment industry, including actor brother Jack and singer-songwriter sister Maesa.

Maya, daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, credits her parents with teaching her “grace and gratitude” in a public-facing industry. 

She noted the importance of balancing fame with personal humanity. “The price of avoiding interacting with the world is higher than the price of taking a picture with someone on the street,” she said.

Set to debut later this year, Wishful Thinking follows Hawke and Pullman as a temperamental couple in Portland whose fights have fantastical consequences impacting everything from earthquakes to the stock market, forcing them to reconsider if their love can survive the chaos around them.