Maya Hawke
An artist who has deftly carved her own creative identity beyond famous parents, becoming a Generation Z icon through vulnerable songwriting and nuanced screen performances.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American actress and singer·Birthday: July 8·Generation Z
Biography
Maya Hawke played the witty, anxious Robin in 'Stranger Things,' capturing the heartache and humor of teenage outsiders. She debuted as Jo March in 'Little Women,' showing a literary-minded, introspective quality. Parallel to acting, she launched a music career of folk-inflected melodies and diaristic lyrics. She collaborates closely with musician Jesse Harris, crafting intimate confessionals. In an industry obsessed with lineage, Hawke succeeded by being resolutely herself: bookish, self-deprecating, and unafraid of emotional exposure.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Maya was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maya Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Maya's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread recognition for her role as Robin Buckley in the global Netflix phenomenon 'Stranger Things'.
- Released critically acclaimed folk-rock albums 'Blush' (2020) and 'Moss' (2022), showcasing her songwriting.
- Starred as Jo March in the 2017 BBC television adaptation of 'Little Women', marking her professional acting debut.
Did You Know?
She has dyslexia and was homeschooled for a period during her childhood.
Hawke attended the prestigious Juilliard School for a brief time before leaving to pursue acting roles.
She and her 'Stranger Things' co-star Joseph Quinn performed a cover of 'California Dreamin'' for the show's soundtrack.
“I'm interested in the parts of people that are soft and vulnerable and confused, because that's what I am.”
