Ethan Hawke: If you could edit your past, what would you change?

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Repeated verbatim in The Guardian's long-running Saturday Q&A; two publisher-hosted examples establish recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Ethan Hawke said elsewhere, not written here

Too many things to mention.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 April 2015 source ↗

Others on this question

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Harlan Coben American author

I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but if I could go back and fix the mistake, I wouldn’t be here.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 August 2024 source ↗

Chris Bonington

The loss of Conrad.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

Belinda Carlisle American singer

I wouldn’t take back the drugs, but there are a few boyfriends that I’d edit out of my life.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 March 2023 source ↗

Edward Fox British actor

The years between 13 and 17, which I think are very formative, and the rather arid public school upbringing I had at Harrow.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 April 2017 source ↗

More from Ethan Hawke

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Question What is the most rewarding part of being a parent? Relationships

I love being a father. I think there’s a great lie that we tell kids that pleasure creates happiness. Young people think: “Oh, if I get this, I’ll be happy.” But in a lot of ways it’s meeting your responsibilities that makes you happy. For me, I’ve just found that feeling like I’ve done a good job with the kids is a real source of happiness for me.

Recorded The Talks, 16 May 2012 source ↗