Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves: From Knock Knock to Ballerina
Years before Ana de Armas wielded an ice skate as a weapon in “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” she starred alongside Keanu Reeves in a very different story. The 2015 erotic thriller “Knock Knock” marked de Armas’ first Hollywood role. Born and raised in Cuba, she had just moved to Los Angeles after acting in Spain. English was new to her, so she memorized her lines phonetically.
“It was tough and I felt miserable at times and very lonely,” she said in a recent interview. “But I wanted to prove myself. I remember being in meetings with producers and they would be like, ‘OK, I’ll see you in a year when you learn English.’ Before I left the office, I would say, ‘I’ll see you in two months.’”
Since “Knock Knock,” Ana de Armas’ rise to fame has been rapid and remarkable. From her luminous appearance as a hologram in “Blade Runner 2049” to stealing scenes in Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out,” and shining in the Bond film “No Time to Die,” her star has steadily risen. Most recently, she earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde.”
“It’s a big moment in my career, and I know that. I can see that,” de Armas reflected. “It makes me look back in many ways, just being with Keanu in another film in such a different place in my career. It definitely gives me perspective of the journey and everything since we met. Things have come far since then.”
Facing the Pressure of John Wick’s Ballerina
Although de Armas, 37, has enjoyed major roles, many of her recent hits have been streaming releases. “The Gray Man” and “Blonde” were on Netflix, while “Ghosted” premiered on Apple TV+. However, “Ballerina” depends heavily on her star power and the loyal “John Wick” fanbase to draw audiences to theaters.
Experts predicted a strong opening weekend of $35-40 million despite the film’s extensive reshoots. Critics have praised de Armas’ convincing portrayal of a ballerina-turned-assassin.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” said director Len Wiseman. “It’s a lot to carry all on her shoulders. But she’ll be the first person to tell you: ‘Put it on. Let me carry the weight. I’m totally game.’”
De Armas has embraced the global spotlight, attending CinemaCon, engaging warmly with fans, and deftly handling questions about her upcoming projects, including “Deeper” with Tom Cruise. Yet, despite being comfortable in the limelight, she lives part-time in Vermont—a surprising choice for a young A-lister.
“Yeah, it surprised many people,” she chuckled. “As soon as I went up there, I knew that was going to be a place that would bring me happiness and sanity and peace. But I know for a Cuban who doesn’t like cold very much, it’s very strange.”
Unexpected Paths and Childhood Challenges
Her journey to stardom is as unexpected as her Vermont retreat. From age 12, de Armas was determined to become an actor. She studied theater and never imagined she’d star in action films.
“I never thought I was going to do action,” she said. “What was relatable for me was watching Cuban actors on TV and in movies. That was my reality. That’s all I knew, so the actors I looked up to were those.”
Remarkably, de Armas overcame severe asthma as a child, which made the physical demands of “Ballerina” even more impressive.
“I couldn’t do anything,” she recalled. “I couldn’t run. I sometimes couldn’t play with my friends. I had to just be home and be still so I wouldn’t get an asthma attack. So I never thought of myself as someone athletic or able to run just a block. So this has been a surprise.”
At 14, she was accepted into Havana’s National Theatre. Four years later, she moved to Madrid, thanks to Spanish citizenship through her grandparents. Arriving in Los Angeles in 2014 meant starting over once again.
Now among Hollywood’s top Latina stars, de Armas has witnessed how immigrant journeys have become more difficult. She noted the increased restrictions affecting many, including Cubans, and expressed gratitude for having arrived when it was easier.
“I got here at a time when things were definitely easier in that sense,” she said. “So I just feel very lucky for that. But it’s difficult. Everything that’s going on is very difficult and very sad and really challenging for many people. I definitely wish things were different.”
Hard Work and Charm Win Over John Wick Fans
Chad Stahelski, director of the “John Wick” series and producer of “Ballerina,” was preparing for “John Wick: Chapter 4” when he was introduced to de Armas for the spin-off role. After watching her past performances, he was impressed.
“How many people would have played the Bond girl kind of goofy like that?” he asked. “I know that I can harden people up. I know I can make them the assassin, but getting the charm and the love and the humor out of someone is trickier. But she had it.”
Stahelski admired her ability to shift from vulnerability to lethal intent, as seen in “Knives Out.”
“I like that in my action heroes,” he explained. “I don’t want to see the stoic, superhero vibe where everything’s going to be OK.”
Beyond talent, her personal story struck a chord.
“‘John Wick’ is all hard work — and I don’t mean just in the training. You’ve got to love it and put yourself out there,” Stahelski said. “When you get her story about how she came from the age of 12, got into acting, what she sacrificed, what she did, that’s what got my attention. ‘Oh, she’s a perseverer. She doesn’t just enjoy the view, she enjoys the climb.’”
De Armas laughed when hearing this praise and agreed wholeheartedly.
“Being Cuban, and my upbringing and my family and everything I’ve done, I’ve never had a plan B,” she said. “I’ve never had that thing of, ‘Well, if it doesn’t work, my family can help.’ Or, ‘I can do this other career.’ This was it. And I also knew, besides being the thing I loved the most, this was my survival. This is how I live. This is how I feed myself and my family. So it’s also a sense of, I don’t know, responsibility.”
Reflecting on her early Hollywood days, she recalled the challenge of learning lines and working alongside stars like Keanu Reeves.
“I was so committed to do it,” she said. “I was so invested in the trying of it, just giving it a shot. When I give something a shot, I try my best, whatever that is. Then I can actually say: I gave it a shot.”
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