Ethan Hawke made a memorable Miami debut on November 2, accepting the Miami Film Festival s Variety Virtuoso Award and joining Variety co‑editor‑in‑chief Ramin Setoodeh for a candid conversation about his expansive career. The actor and producer opened up about his collaborations with a range of creatives, from Richard Linklater to Taylor Swift, and recalled a nerve wracking yet defining screen test with Denzel Washington that underscored his approach to performance. Hawke highlighted his long-running partnership with Linklater across nine films, discussed the impact of working with Swift, and shared how these experiences have shaped his discipline, taste, and process in both acting and producing. The interview paints a portrait of a versatile artist whose career continues to evolve, offering insight into the choices that keep him at the forefront of contemporary cinema.