Ethan Hawke’s advice for anyone whose love isn’t returned is to keep feeling, even if it means getting your heart broken.
The question came from Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg during their Oscars red-carpet interview. Hawke was nominated for best actor for Blue Moon, in which he plays lyricist Lorenz Hart.
In Richard Linklater’s film, Hart faces the loss of his partnership with composer Richard Rodgers alongside unreturned feelings for the character played by Margaret Qualley. Dimoldenberg drew her question directly from that role.
“Larry Hart, who you play in your movie, he’s a fool for unrequited love, I would say. Do you have any advice for someone who also has a bit of an unrequited love theme in their life?” she asked.
“The one who’s in love always wins,” Hawke answered.
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter if you get your heart broken. You’re living. When you’re feeling, you’re alive.”
Hawke continued: “You know, the sun doesn’t care whether the grass appreciates its rays, right? It just keeps on shining. That’s you.”
Dimoldenberg said she was going to get it tattooed on her forehead, then told him, “I love you.” Hawke replied, “I love you, too.”