Ethan Hawke found it "impossible" to cope with his marriage to Uma Thurman.
The 45-year-old actor called time on his romance with the ‘Pulp Fiction’ actress in 2005 after realising their marriage thrusted him more into the spotlight when he wanted to take a step back.
He said: "[The problem with] Uma was a mathematical one. I was looking for a home, a sense of security, a foundation and a family in the concept of marriage. I was looking for the opposite of what I had in my life, always exposed to the flashes – but I fell in love with someone that just added more flashes to my private life.
"Our marriage became the antithesis of what I wanted and we found it very difficult to feel grounded. I know there are people who can handle it, I have friends who do. For me it was impossible. As I say, it was a matter of mathematics."
When the pair decided to go their separate ways, the ‘Boyhood’ star got the names of their children – Maya, 18, and Levon, 14 – tattooed on him as he wanted them to know the split wouldn’t affect his relationship with them.
Speaking to El País’ ICON magazine, he added: "When I divorced Uma I did not want them to think I was divorcing them too. Maybe someday I will get a tattoo of the names of the other two.
"I have a very visceral perspective of fatherhood. I do not think there is a great manual about being a father, I just want to raise and educate my children with good judgment and teaching them good values. I want to always tell them the truth. It is up to them how they choose to contribute to the world, what kind of person they want to become."
Ethan Hawke’s ‘impossible’ marriage to Uma Thurman
