Twenty years. It’s been more than two decades since the psychological thriller Taking Lives hit theaters. At the time, it felt like just another serial killer flick, but the headlines weren’t about the plot twists. They were about the leads. Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke were two of the biggest names on the planet, and the rumors swirling around them were, frankly, wild.
Some people say they had a secret affair. Others claim the movie was the final nail in the coffin for Ethan Hawke’s marriage to Uma Thurman. Honestly, if you look back at the press from 2004, it’s a chaotic mess of tabloid speculation and awkward interview clips. But what is the actual truth?
The Chemistry That Set Tabloids On Fire
When you put two people that attractive in a dark, moody movie with a very graphic sex scene, the "dating" rumors are basically inevitable. Taking Lives followed Jolie as FBI profiler Illeana Scott and Hawke as James Costa, a witness who... well, if you’ve seen the movie, you know he’s not exactly who he says he is.
The on-screen tension was real. Even Ethan Hawke admitted it years later. In a famous 2013 interview on Watch What Happens Live, he told Andy Cohen that his best on-screen kiss was with Angelina Jolie. He didn't just say it was good; he went full poetic. He claimed she was "born to whittle men" and make them "weak."
"When she kisses you, you don't know your name," Hawke said.
That kind of quote is gasoline for gossip.
But back in 2003, while they were filming in Montreal, things were complicated. Ethan Hawke was still married to Uma Thurman, one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. When they split shortly after the movie wrapped, the world looked for a villain.
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Did They Actually Date?
The short answer: probably not, at least not in a "relationship" sense. But the rumors were loud.
A lot of the heat came from Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of Jolie, where he claimed the two had a brief, intense fling in their hotel suite. The tabloids jumped on it. They painted Jolie as the "man-eater" who broke up one of the industry's golden couples.
However, the timeline doesn't perfectly fit. While the media wanted to blame Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke was also linked to a Canadian model named Jen Perzow around the same time. And let’s not forget, Ethan eventually married Ryan Shawhughes, who had been the nanny for his and Uma’s children.
Jolie herself has always been pretty blunt about these things. In a 2012 interview, she laughed off the idea that she was sleeping with all her co-stars, mentioning Hawke specifically alongside Olivier Martinez and Kiefer Sutherland. Basically, she was like, "Apparently, I was getting around with everyone on that set."
Making The Most Uncomfortable Scene
One of the weirdest stories from the set involves a specific intimate scene. Apparently, Hawke was incredibly nervous. To calm him down—or perhaps to just get it over with—Jolie reportedly suggested a bizarre "ice-breaker."
She allegedly asked the director, D.J. Caruso, if she should just get completely naked while Hawke stayed in his full suit. The idea was that if she was the one being vulnerable, it might make him feel less awkward. It’s a very "Angie" way to handle a problem.
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Did it work? Well, the scene is definitely intense, though critics at the time weren't exactly kind to the movie as a whole.
Why Ethan Hawke Called the Movie "Terrible"
If you think Taking Lives is a masterpiece, Ethan Hawke would disagree with you. He’s been surprisingly honest about the film's quality. In an interview with The Guardian, he straight-up called it "terrible."
It’s rare for an actor to trash their own work so clearly, but Hawke has always been a bit of an indie darling who occasionally takes big studio paychecks. He seemed to view the experience as a bit of a creative low point, even if the paycheck was good and the leading lady was world-class.
Jolie didn't escape unscathed either. She actually earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress for her role. Ouch.
The Legacy of the Rumors
So, where are they now?
- Ethan Hawke is a four-time Oscar nominee and has carved out a massive career as a writer and director.
- Angelina Jolie became a global humanitarian and a director in her own right.
- The Movie is mostly remembered today for that one shocking ending and the "best kiss" quote.
The fascinations with Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke mostly stems from that specific era of Hollywood. It was the peak of "paparazzi culture." Every look, every shared lunch, and every hotel stay was scrutinized.
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While there was never any concrete proof—no photos of them together outside of work, no confirmed sightings—the "vibe" was enough for the public. It fed into the narrative of Jolie as a rebel and Hawke as a man going through a mid-life crisis (or a quarter-life crisis, since he was only in his early 30s).
Actionable Insights: How to Separate Fact from Tabloid Fiction
When looking back at celebrity scandals from the early 2000s, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. Here’s how to navigate the history:
1. Check the Source of the "Affair" Claims
Most of the rumors about Jolie and Hawke originated in unauthorized biographies or "unnamed sources" in Star Magazine. These are rarely accurate.
2. Look at the Actors' Own Reflections
Hawke’s "best kiss" comment is real. His admission that the movie was bad is real. Use these primary source quotes to understand their professional relationship.
3. Contextualize the Split
While the Taking Lives shoot happened around the time Hawke and Thurman separated, multiple factors were at play, including his relationship with his future wife, Ryan Shawhughes.
4. Watch the Film for the Craft
If you want to see the "chemistry" everyone talked about, watch the 2004 film. It’s a fascinating time capsule of two actors at very different points in their lives.
If you're revisiting the 2000s thriller era, start with the director's cut of Taking Lives. It fills in some of the plot holes that critics originally hated and gives you a better sense of why people thought there was something "more" going on between the leads.