Maya Hawke Embraces Her Role as Anxiety in 'Inside Out 2'

In a recent interview, actress Maya Hawke, 27, has expressed her longstanding love for the role of Anxiety, which she voiced in the upcoming 'Inside Out 2' movie. Hawke explains that the jittery, self-conscious character has helped young viewers "understand their brains" better.

Hawke, who is known for her role in the hit series 'Stranger Things', told her 'Inside Out' co-star Amy Poehler, 54, that playing Anxiety has been "one of the great honors." She shared that her own younger sister had asked if she ever gets annoyed when people ask her to do the Anxiety voice, to which Hawke replied, "Not at all."

The actress further elaborated that the character of Anxiety has resonated deeply with many people, especially young children, who have felt "so seen" by it. Hawke often receives requests from parents to record messages in the Anxiety voice to comfort their children when a parent is sick or going to the doctor's office.

Poehler, who voiced the character of Joy in the original 'Inside Out' movie, also reflected on the overwhelmingly positive response the film received, saying it felt "so much bigger than us." Hawke agreed, describing the experience as "a rainbow" - a rare occurrence for a movie to hit all the right notes and be "good for the world."

Hawke shared that playing Anxiety has taught her to be more accepting of that part of herself and to invite it into the conversation, rather than trying to shut it out. She believes this approach is key to calming anxiety, by offering it a "comfy chair" and addressing its concerns directly.