Among the best performances in the show is Ethan Hawke, who plays Martin Kessler, an ex-investigative journalist who becomes an unwilling insider. More about Ethan Hawke’s role and The LowdownHawke in Martin is a highly ambivalent character, a man who is divided between the truth and survival. It is this moral ambiguity that makes Martin a very interesting presence in the show. That is what makes Martin an advantage, as he is able to portray both vulnerable and dangerous characters with ease. Ethan Hawke plays the lead role in the drama as Martin Kessler, the tortured former journalist whose awareness and conscience are the catalysts to the storyline.