Maya Hawke, the 25-year-old actress who previously won a Saturn Award for her role in the series “Stranger Things,” is the daughter of Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. This year, she lent her voice to the character Aja in Pixar’s latest animated film “Inside Out 2.”
Inside Out 2 follows the life of the 13-year-old protagonist, Riley, whose brain headquarters is suddenly dismantled and under construction to make space for new emotions. As Joy and Sadness are still trying to figure things out, new emotions like Aja, Amu, Ashy, and Abandoned have made their appearance. Aja, representing anxiety, has the potential to drastically change Riley’s life, personality, and even irritate many. Her friendships, family, and school life are put to the test because of this.
Lulu, the voice actress for Aja in the Chinese version, has mentioned in interviews that her feelings of anxiety are omnipresent, especially on the day before work, where she rehearses the worst-case scenarios in her mind. The American spokesperson for Aja, Maya Hawke, also experiences similar situations.
Speaking at a comic convention in the US at the end of April, Maya Hawke talked about the character, stating that people go through various types of anxiety such as nervousness and excitement. She mentioned, “Like, oh my god! I am excited to attend this comic convention, so I need to make sure my outfit is appropriate, and will I arrive on time? Will people like me? That’s a kind of anxiety.”
Maya Hawke believes that anxiety is not inherently bad. She said, “This emotion has multiple facets; it can be a negative force but can also be a positive one,” explaining how she had to immerse herself in the role of Aja to perfect her voice acting. However, due to becoming too emotional during the process, she experienced physical discomfort afterward. “My neck and shoulders were in pain, and I felt really tense. But the experience was truly enjoyable, so it didn’t matter.”
French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos voices the new character, Abandoned, while Paul Walter Hauser, known for his outstanding performances in films like “Richard Jewell,” voices Shy. Amu, with big, puppy eyes, is voiced by Emmy Award winner Ayo Edebiri.
Although Aja’s character stands out with her bold personality in “Inside Out 2,” almost stealing the spotlight from the others, the essence of the protagonist Riley remains that of a healthy, happy little girl. Therefore, Joy, who is the emotional center of Riley’s brain, must take on the significant responsibility of caring for Riley’s mental development, voiced once again by the multiple Emmy Award nominee, Amy Poehler.
Regarding their new friend, Aja, Amy Poehler expressed that the coolest aspect of Pixar is that the appearance of anxiety is meant to protect Riley. “Anxiety is like an engine that drives us to take action, but unfortunately, when anxiety takes over, it can prevent us from experiencing the joy we deserve and even hinder our relationships.”