When Ana de Armas stopped by "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," it wasn't just to promote her latest film, "Ballerina," the highly anticipated "John Wick" spinoff; it was also to give us a peek behind the curtain of what it's really like to work with the internet's forever boyfriend: Keanu Reeves.
And let's just say her Cuban family had some thoughts, but not the ones you might expect.
© Getty Images for Lionsgate UKThe "Keanu Effect" Hits Home
You'd think starring in a blockbuster action film or earning an Oscar nomination would win you some serious points at home, but not in Ana's household. "I have to remind them that I'm in it," Ana confessed to Fallon, adding that they are always hyped when she is working with Reeves.
Forget the blood, sweat, and high-speed stunts Ana put into becoming a leading lady in a high-octane action universe. For her relatives, it all boiled down to one magical name: Keanu.
© Dave Benett/WireImageReunion on Set
Ana De Armas and Reeves aren't strangers — they first shared the screen in the 2015 psychological thriller "Knock Knock," and later reunited in the 2016 drama "Exposed." But "Ballerina" marks their most explosive collaboration yet, both literally and figuratively.
According to her, Keanu didn't just swoop in for a cameo. He was actively involved as a character and collaborator, helping her train and fine-tune the intense choreography that defines the "John Wick" universe.
© Getty Images for Lionsgate UKFallon, always quick on his feet, joked, "You got to beat up Keanu Reeves?"
A New Chapter in the Wick-verse
"Ballerina," slated for release in 2025, follows Ana's character Rooney, a trained assassin out for revenge — and yes, we can expect the same gritty, neon-soaked, bullet-dodging madness that made the "John Wick" series a phenomenon.
The film is a significant step for de Armas, who takes the lead in a franchise known for its stylized violence and relentless pace. And while that might sound like a huge pressure cooker, she says Reeves' support helped ground her. Keanu lore checks out. He's famously known for giving away chunks of his salary, doing his own stunts, and being the human equivalent of a warm hug. No wonder Ana's family was floored.
The Humble Star Who Happens to Be Everywhere
Despite her growing list of accolades, from "Knives Out" to "No Time to Die" to "Blonde," Ana says her family remains hilariously unimpressed. She clarified that they're proud, of course, but they're always wondering with whom she is going to work.
© Getty Images for Lionsgate UKStill, Ana doesn't seem to mind. Her charm lies in that refreshing humility; the Oscar nominations and action-hero status haven't gone to her head. She's still the girl from Havana whose mom just wants to see her make a movie with George Clooney.
