Ellar Coltrane, the actor who starred as Mason in Richard Linklater's Oscar-winning film Boyhood, has largely withdrawn from the spotlight since the movie's 2014 release. Now 30, Coltrane has embraced a life away from Hollywood, volunteering as a firefighter and pursuing a paramedic license in rural New Mexico. He described his current existence as living "in the middle of nowhere" and being "pretty far away from film."
Boyhood was an ambitious cinematic project that followed Coltrane's character from age seven to 19, with filming taking place intermittently from 2002 to 2013. The film allowed cast members to age naturally alongside their roles, with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette portraying Coltrane's parents. Arquette won an Academy Award for her performance. Despite the widespread acclaim and brief period of celebrity following the film's release, Coltrane found fame to be an overwhelming experience he did not particularly enjoy.
Coltrane has, however, maintained a connection to the arts through the independent film community in El Paso, Texas. He described the scene as "wonderful" and reminiscent of Austin 20 years prior. He recently portrayed Lee Harvey Oswald in a short film titled El Fantasma, shot in Mexico City, and has acted in other short films.
Raised in Austin, Texas, Coltrane came from an artistic family; his father was a musician, and his mother worked in horse therapy. The filming of Boyhood coincided with a "pretty tumultuous household" during his childhood. Scenes depicting his character's stepfather's alcoholism and abusive behavior did not shock him, as he noted that "that was just kind of how adults were." However, a scene involving a plate being thrown during a drunken argument was viscerally frightening, even within the context of acting.
Coltrane described himself as an "odd kid" during filming, homeschooled and immersed in Austin's arts community, which led to him not having many peers. He experienced a period as a "really wild teenager," recalling an instance at age 17 where he arrived on set under the influence of marijuana, resulting in extreme anxiety and a performance he deemed poor, which was ultimately cut from the final film.
While Coltrane did not regret his experience as a child actor during the shoot, the publicity following Boyhood's release, shortly before his 20th birthday, proved uncomfortable. He found attending numerous Q&As and parties unenjoyable. He noted that he was grateful to have been an adult by the time the film exposed him to public scrutiny, avoiding the difficulties many child stars face. He expressed compassion for those who struggle with early-onset fame.
Director Richard Linklater commented that Coltrane "grew up to be this sensitive poet guy," now living in New Mexico. The film's development, Linklater noted, was largely influenced by Coltrane's own journey.
Recently, after interacting with film professionals at an Austin Film Society event alongside Hawke, Arquette, and Linklater, Coltrane admitted to "missing being on set." He expressed a preference for collaborating on smaller, independent "passion projects" where he can work closely with a director, feeling he has "a lot to offer" in such capacities, rather than navigating large studio productions.