Maya Hawke is preparing for a new level of attention with The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, in which she plays Wiress, a brilliant and unconventional victor. The role marks another major franchise for the actor, following her work as Robin Buckley in Stranger Things and as Anxiety in Inside Out 2.

Hawke, 28, said that joining Sunrise on the Reaping felt different from entering Stranger Things, where the existing cast had already completed two seasons. This time, she described the ensemble as sharing the experience of starting something new and facing its challenges together.

To prepare for Wiress, Hawke reread the novel, revisited the earlier films and studied the script. Because Amanda Plummer’s original version of the character had limited screen time and was shown after experiencing significant trauma, Hawke said she had to imagine who Wiress might have been before those events. She focused on the character’s unusual victory in the Games, achieved without harming anyone, and viewed her as someone who retained her moral compass.

Hawke believes the franchise continues to resonate because of its examination of power and corruption. In her view, the story explores not only who holds power but also what power does to people. She characterized the books and films as unusually direct examples of popular, anti-fascist protest art.

The actor also acknowledged the anxiety that can come with joining a major pop-culture phenomenon. Her song “Lioness,” from her folk-pop album Maitreya Corso, compares that experience with being watched by millions on a roller coaster. Hawke said she can become nervous when she considers public reaction to a project, particularly casting discussions, and is trying to pay less attention to that conversation.

Despite her expanding acting career, music, fashion work and personal life, Hawke said she is trying to reduce the pace of her schedule. Over the past year, she released her album, worked on several screen projects, served as a Prada ambassador and married singer-songwriter Christian Lee Hutson. “Doing half as much twice as well” is her current goal, she said.

Hawke has also appeared in the romantic comedy One Night Only, is filming the thriller The God of the Woods and is attached to the romantic fantasy Wishful Thinking, expected in early 2027. She said fashion and acting initially left her uncomfortable with labels, but working with Prada in Milan gives her a strong sense of confidence.

The conversation also touched on Hawke’s view of romance and privacy. She described herself as a hopeless romantic and said friendships can bring some of life’s deepest heartbreak because people often enter them without expecting an ending. She married Hutson on Valentine’s Day and chose not to make the wedding a major public event, although photographs of the ceremony later appeared in People.

Looking ahead, Hawke said she does not expect to leave behind the impact of Stranger Things. She sees the series as a lasting and beautiful shadow in her life and is willing to continue appearing at fan events and signing posters. Sunrise on the Reaping, however, may bring another global fandom and a new chapter in her already wide-ranging career.

Sources: Cosmopolitan.