Ellar Coltrane, the former child star of Richard Linklater's 2014 film "Boyhood," has largely stepped away from the spotlight and is now working toward a career as an EMT, alongside performing manual labor and volunteering as a firefighter. Coltrane, who was famously filmed from ages 6 to 18 for the groundbreaking project, told Variety that he is now 31 and resides "in the middle of nowhere."
"I'm pretty far away from film," Coltrane stated in a Q&A published Tuesday. While he remains involved in the independent film community in El Paso, Texas, and has appeared in a few short films, he emphasized his departure from his past acting career. He is currently focused on obtaining his EMT license.
Despite his current path, Coltrane expressed a continued interest in artistic collaboration, particularly for smaller, independent projects. "When I can get into that head space with an artist and work closely with them to figure out how I can express what they’re trying to express, I think I can do really good work," he mused. However, he noted that he struggles with the scale and structure of large studio productions, stating, "I was never really trained as an actor. I was trained by Richard and [co-star] Ethan [Hawke] as a collaborator and part of the machine of the film."
Coltrane, who was homeschooled and grew up in Austin, Texas, among an arts community, reflected positively on his "Boyhood" experience, likening it to summer camp. He also expressed gratitude for avoiding the typical challenges faced by child stars. "A big saving grace for me... for them there was something released to the world also in childhood," he said, contrasting his experience with that of other child actors. "I didn’t have to experience that and I am grateful for that, because when I did experience celebrity, it was a lot."
"Boyhood" chronicled the life of Mason Evans Jr., played by Coltrane from ages 6 to 18, as he navigated childhood and adolescence in Texas with his divorced parents, portrayed by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, and his sister, played by Lorelai Linklater. Arquette received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Olivia Evans.
In 2014, Hawke praised Coltrane's maturity and composure during the film's extensive production. "The biggest, best mystery is this kid Coltrane," Hawke said in a conversation with Linklater for Austin Way Magazine. "He is handling himself so beautifully. . . When I asked Charlie Sexton... what he thought about the movie, he told me the biggest miracle . . . is that the kid didn’t turn out to be a jerk."