Uma Thurman’s (‘Kill Bill’) unexpected advice to daughter Maya Hawke (‘Stranger Things’) before working with Tarantino

When Stranger Things star Maya Hawke landed a small but memorable role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, she didn’t just get advice from Hollywood royalty — she got it from her own mother, Uma Thurman.

Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the 26-year-old actress revealed the unexpected (and hilarious) tip her mom gave her before she stepped onto Tarantino’s set:

“Keep your shoes on.”

The line instantly sent the podcast’s audience into laughter. And for anyone familiar with Tarantino’s long-running cinematic quirks, Thurman’s advice made perfect sense.

Why Uma Thurman’s warning made everyone laugh

Thurman knows Tarantino better than most — she’s starred in three of his most iconic films: Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004).

Over the years, fans and critics alike have pointed out the director’s apparent fascination with women’s feet, a detail that has become something of a signature in his movies. From Thurman’s “wiggle your big toe” scene in Kill Bill to the countless shots of bare feet in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino’s camera has never shied away from the subject.

So, when Uma Thurman jokingly told her daughter to “keep her shoes on,” it wasn’t just motherly advice — it was an inside Hollywood joke that landed perfectly.

Even Brad Pitt got in on the joke

Tarantino’s foot fascination has long been the stuff of playful industry teasing. During the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Brad Pitt cracked one of the most memorable jokes of the night while accepting his award for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood:

“I want to thank my co-stars: Leo, Margot Robbie, Margot Robbie’s feet, Margaret Qualley’s feet, Dakota Fanning’s feet. Seriously, Quentin has separated more women from their shoes than the TSA.”

The line drew a round of laughter from the assembled stars — and confirmed that, yes, everyone in Hollywood is in on the joke.

Tarantino’s response: ‘I don’t take it seriously’

For his part, Tarantino has never denied or shied away from the chatter. In a 2021 interview with GQ, he brushed off the obsession with good humor:

“I don’t take it seriously. There are a lot of feet in the films of many great directors. That’s just good filmmaking. Before me, Luis Buñuel was known for it. Hitchcock was accused of it. Sofia Coppola too.” he explained.

Love it or not, Tarantino’s stylistic choices have become part of what makes his films instantly recognizable — and the topic continues to spark laughter and fascination in equal measure.

A Hollywood legacy with a wink

Maya Hawke’s growing career — from Netflix’s Stranger Things to Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City — shows that talent clearly runs in the family. But so does a sharp sense of humor.

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