Maya Ray Thurman-Hawke entered the world on July 8, 1998, in New York City, carrying an impressive lineage. The daughter of Hollywood royalty, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, Maya is also the grandchild of Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman and model Baroness Nena von Schlebrügge. Raised alongside her younger brother Levon, Maya faced challenges with dyslexia, leading to frequent school changes during her early years. Eventually, she found her footing at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, a haven for creative students, which nurtured her growing passion for acting.
Despite her impressive family background, Maya forged her own path. She briefly attended Juilliard, pursuing a BFA in acting, but left when a major opportunity arose. Her acting debut came in 2017 as Jo March in the BBC miniseries adaptation of Little Women. In this role, she captured attention for her combination of charm, emotional depth, and nuanced performance, signaling the arrival of a promising new talent in the entertainment world.
Her early career trajectory was influenced not just by her family, but by her own drive to explore complex characters. Even in Little Women, she demonstrated an ability to balance historical context with contemporary relatability, qualities that would become hallmarks of her later work in Stranger Things and beyond.
Maya Hawke’s widespread recognition skyrocketed with her portrayal of Robin Buckley in Stranger Things 3. Auditioning alongside numerous candidates, she earned the role opposite Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington, stepping into the show’s beloved Starcourt Mall arc. Robin’s introduction as part of the Scoops Ahoy ice cream team quickly cemented her as a fan favorite, thanks to Maya’s impeccable comedic timing, effortless charm, and the sharp intelligence she brought to the character. Robin evolved from a quirky side character into a pivotal member of the Hawkins squad, helping to decode supernatural mysteries while navigating the trials of adolescence and friendship.
Maya balanced this breakout television role with a cinematic milestone: portraying Linda Kasabian in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood the same year. Working alongside industry giants like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, she demonstrated a professional maturity and adaptability that belied her young age, solidifying her reputation as a versatile actress capable of moving seamlessly between film and television.
Robin Buckley’s cleverness, humor, and loyalty reflect Maya’s ability to imbue her characters with layers that make them resonate far beyond the page or script. Fans quickly embraced her as a key part of the Stranger Things universe, celebrating the depth and nuance she brings to the show’s complex, nostalgia-infused storytelling.
Since her breakthrough, Maya Hawke has explored a variety of roles across film, television, and voice acting. In 2021, she appeared in Netflix’s horror film Fear Street Part One: 1994 and in Gia Coppola’s Mainstream, demonstrating her capacity to tackle different genres while maintaining a strong screen presence. She expanded her portfolio further with Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, bringing her signature subtlety and charm to his idiosyncratic style.
Her upcoming projects highlight both her versatility and her expanding Hollywood influence. Maya joins the biographical film Maestro, focused on composer Leonard Bernstein, and stars as Flannery O’Connor in Wildcat, directed by her father, Ethan Hawke. In 2023, she also worked with her mother, Uma Thurman, and Samuel L. Jackson in The Kill Room, cementing her place within both legacy projects and contemporary cinema.
Maya’s talents extend to voice work, lending her voice to the character Anxiety in Inside Out 2. Additionally, she will appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, signaling her continued rise in blockbuster franchises. Fans can anticipate a career that blends nuanced indie films with mainstream appeal, echoing the duality seen in her portrayal of Robin Buckley—intelligent, empathetic, and undeniably memorable.
Maya Hawke’s trajectory illustrates a delicate balance of legacy and individuality. While her pedigree opened doors, her talent, commitment, and choice of challenging roles have proven her capability to thrive independently. Robin Buckley is just one of many characters that showcase her charm, intelligence, and depth, and as Stranger Things 5 nears release, it’s thrilling to imagine the new layers Maya will bring to her already beloved character.
Her career demonstrates that Maya is more than just a familiar face in Hawkins; she is an evolving force in Hollywood, poised to leave a lasting mark on audiences and the industry alike.
