When Ana de Armas stepped into the high-octane world of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, she found more than a co-star in Keanu Reeves—she found a mentor, a guide, and, in her words, “a father figure.” In a revealing interview with Entertainment Tonight on June 3, 2025, the 37-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress opened up about her transformative experience working with Reeves, 60, on their third collaboration, following Knock Knock (2015) and Exposed (2016). From sharing acting techniques to offering emotional support during grueling stunt sequences, Reeves’ presence was a cornerstone for de Armas as she tackled the demanding role of Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin. As Ballerina hits theaters, de Armas’ candid reflections and Reeves’ nurturing approach are sparking buzz on X, with fans hailing their bond as a Hollywood rarity. Here’s the heartfelt story of how Reeves shaped de Armas’ journey—and why their connection resonates far beyond the screen. 💖🕶️

A Decade-Long Bond: From Knock Knock to Ballerina 🎥

Ana de Armas’ journey with Keanu Reeves began a decade ago, when she was a 26-year-old newcomer to Hollywood, fresh from Cuba and Spain with limited English. Their first collaboration, Eli Roth’s erotic thriller Knock Knock (2015), was de Armas’ debut English-language film, where she learned lines phonetically and struggled with self-consciousness. “I was so nervous, especially around Keanu,” she recalled at CinemaCon 2025, where she accepted the Action Star of the Year award. A now-infamous moment—accidentally admitting she hadn’t seen The Matrix—left her mortified, but Reeves’ warmth put her at ease. “He just laughed and started talking about John Wick choreography. He made me feel like I belonged,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.

Their second project, the thriller Exposed (2016), deepened their rapport. Reeves, also a producer, personally called de Armas to offer her the role, a gesture she described to CinemaBlend as “a vote of confidence I’ll never forget.” By 2025, when de Armas headlined Ballerina—set between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4—their dynamic had evolved into something profound. “Keanu’s like a father to me on set,” de Armas told ET. “He’s so generous, so patient, and he has this way of making you feel safe, no matter how tough the scene.” Her words, echoed in posts on X like “Ana calling Keanu a father figure is melting my heart! 🥹,” highlight a bond built on trust and mutual respect.

Reeves’ Acting Masterclass: Techniques That Transformed Ana 🧠

For de Armas, working with Reeves on Ballerina was like attending an acting masterclass. Known for his meticulous preparation and martial arts expertise, Reeves shared techniques that elevated her performance as Eve, a character driven by vengeance and vulnerability. “Keanu taught me how to find the truth in every moment,” de Armas told IGN in an email interview. “He’d say, ‘It’s not about the lines—it’s about what’s underneath. Feel it, live it.’ That changed how I approached Eve’s pain.” Reeves’ method, rooted in emotional authenticity, helped de Armas balance the film’s brutal action with its heartfelt core. “I could see the heart in the script,” she told WWD, crediting Reeves for showing her how to “sell the punches but keep the soul.”

One standout lesson was Reeves’ approach to physicality. During rehearsals for a complex fight scene where Eve and John Wick clash, de Armas was intimidated by the choreography’s intensity. “Keanu was rolling, throwing me, doing these crazy stunts, and he’s 60!” she recounted to Reddit’s r/KeanuBeingAwesome community. “I couldn’t complain—he was giving 110%.” Reeves broke down the moves, emphasizing rhythm and precision, even demonstrating John Wick’s iconic “gun fu” from 2014, which he’d first shown her at a Knock Knock lunch. “He’d say, ‘It’s like a dance, Ana. Trust your body,’” she told The Tonight Show. This guidance was pivotal, with de Armas mastering sequences involving ice skates and flamethrowers, earning praise from Variety for her “riveting physicality.”

Reeves also shared tips on emotional inspiration. “He’d tell me to tap into real memories, even painful ones, to fuel a scene,” de Armas revealed to South China Morning Post. For a moment where Eve confronts her father’s killer, Reeves suggested she recall a personal loss—her grandmother’s death in Cuba. “It was raw, but it worked,” she said. “Keanu knows how to make you go deep without breaking you.” Fans on X lauded this mentorship, with one posting, “Keanu teaching Ana to channel emotions is why he’s a legend. 🖤” His perfectionist streak—insisting on multiple takes until a scene felt “right”—inspired de Armas to match his intensity. “We’re both obsessive,” she laughed to ET. “We’d keep going until the director begged us to stop.”

A Fatherly Care: Keanu’s Support On and Off Set 🤗

Beyond technique, Reeves’ care for de Armas was deeply personal, especially during Ballerina’s demanding shoot in Budapest in 2023. The film’s action sequences, including a kitchen brawl where de Armas’ character throws plates and shoves a grenade into an opponent’s jaw, were physically and emotionally taxing. “There was a stunt so intense I cried and walked away,” de Armas told CinemaBlend. “Keanu saw me, pulled me aside, and just listened. He said, ‘You’re doing something extraordinary. Don’t doubt it.’ That meant everything.” His empathy, a hallmark of his reputation as “Hollywood’s kindest star,” was a lifeline.

Reeves’ support extended to practical gestures. Knowing de Armas’ early struggles with English—she once told WWD she’d “die” when lines changed on set—he ensured Ballerina’s dialogue was rehearsed thoroughly. “He’d run lines with me at lunch, making sure I felt confident,” she told AP News. He also advocated for her comfort, adjusting a stunt schedule when she sprained her ankle, per a Collider report. “Keanu’s the guy who notices when you’re struggling and steps in,” de Armas said to ET. “He’s a leader, but he’s also a friend.” This echoed her 2015 Reddit post on r/JohnWick, where she noted Keanu’s patience during Knock Knock’s language barriers: “He never made me feel small.”

Off set, Reeves’ fatherly role shone through small acts. During a cold Budapest night shoot, he shared his jacket and brought her Cuban coffee, a nod to her heritage. “He’d joke, ‘This is better than my Canadian brew,’” de Armas told People. When she learned of her 2023 Oscar nomination for Blonde mid-shoot, Reeves was the first to celebrate, organizing an impromptu cast toast. “He said, ‘You’re carrying a legacy now,’” she recalled to WWD. X users swooned, with one posting, “Keanu being Ana’s biggest cheerleader is peak wholesomeness! ☕🎉” His presence was so impactful that producer Basil Iwanyk told IMDb de Armas convinced Reeves to join Ballerina, reversing their Exposed dynamic.

The Emotional Impact: A Full-Circle Moment 🌍

For de Armas, Ballerina was a full-circle moment, reflecting her growth from a nervous newcomer to an action star. “Ten years ago, I was terrified, learning English with Keanu’s help,” she told ABC News. “Now, I’m leading his franchise, and he’s passing the torch.” Reeves’ influence was key: his work ethic inspired her to endure Ballerina’s reshoots, and his belief in her—evident when he recommended her for Exposed—gave her confidence to carry a $40 million spinoff. “There’d be no Ballerina without Keanu,” she said at CinemaCon, dedicating her award to him.

Reeves, typically reserved, reciprocated the praise. “Ana’s a force—heart, grit, talent,” he told The Hollywood Reporter at the Ballerina London premiere on May 22, 2025. “She’s made Eve her own.” Their chemistry, seen in behind-the-scenes clips of fight choreography shared by de Armas on Instagram, thrilled fans, with X posts like, “Ana and Keanu’s Ballerina stunts are 🔥! Their bond makes it epic.” Despite mixed reviews—InBetweenDrafts criticized the film’s pacing but praised de Armas’ “violent absurdity”—her performance, bolstered by Reeves’ guidance, earned a 72% Rotten Tomatoes score.

The Bigger Picture: A Hollywood Beacon 🌟

De Armas’ tribute to Reeves highlights a rare dynamic in an industry often marked by ego. “Keanu’s not just a star—he’s a teacher, a protector,” she told South China Morning Post. Their bond challenges Hollywood’s stereotypes, showing mentorship across age, gender, and cultural lines. For de Armas, a Cuban immigrant who overcame language barriers, Reeves’ support mirrors her own perseverance, noted by director Chad Stahelski to AP News: “Ana’s a climber, like Keanu. They both love the grind.”

Fans see their relationship as a model for the industry. “Keanu being a father figure to Ana is why we love him,” one X post read. “He lifts others up.” The hashtag #KeanuAna trended post-premiere, with clips of their red-carpet hug going viral. Their story also resonates with de Armas’ journey from Havana’s National Theatre to Oscar nominee, a path she credits to mentors like Reeves. “He believed in me when I didn’t,” she told WWD.

What’s Next for the Duo? 🚀

As Ballerina draws crowds—projected to earn $35 million opening weekend per Box Office Mojo—de Armas and Reeves are open to more collaborations. “I’d love to do John Wick 5 with him,” she told ET, though Reeves joked to People, “My knees might not survive it.” Rumors of de Armas joining Reeves’ comic book project BRZRKR surfaced on X, fueled by their Ballerina chemistry. For now, de Armas is savoring the moment. “Working with Keanu feels like family,” she told IGN. “He’s my guide, my friend, my hero.”

The wedding of Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant, celebrated in June 2025, added a poignant backdrop to de Armas’ reflections. “Seeing Keanu so happy in life makes his kindness on set even more special,” she told People. As fans flood X with praise—“Keanu and Ana’s bond is Hollywood’s best-kept treasure! 🥰”—their story is a reminder that behind the stunts and stardom, it’s human connection that endures. From a nervous lunch in Santiago to a Ballerina triumph, de Armas and Reeves have crafted a legacy of care, craft, and mutual respect that’s as inspiring as any blockbuster. 🌠💪