Ana de Armas is celebrating her experience working with Keanu Reeves while also calling for more female-led action films.
The actress, currently promoting her John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, shared insights into the project during an interview at CinemaCon 2025.
Ana de Armas on Working with Keanu Reeves
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, de Armas recalled an unforgettable moment on set with Reeves. “Seeing Keanu walking on set when everyone was waiting, and he just walked in with the John Wick suit on… It was the first time after John Wick 4, and it was a very iconic moment,” she said.
The Ghosted star revealed that filming with Reeves was an intense experience. “We shot that scene for three or four days, and he was full-on… The script kept getting more intricate and complicated, but we found those active moments in between, and it became something really special,” she shared.
Armas Pushes for More Female-Led Action Films
In a separate interview with Variety, de Armas addressed the lack of original female action films in Hollywood. She referenced veteran actress Helen Mirren’s critique of the James Bond franchise, where Mirren previously described the Bond films as being “drenched in sexism.”
Armas, who played Paloma in No Time to Die (2021), was widely praised for breaking the traditional “Bond Girl” mold. “Why don’t we have more movies about Paloma? Let James be James, and John Wick be John Wick. We’ll do our own thing,” she stated at The John Wick Experience.
Ballerina Set for a Major Release
Armas further emphasized the power of women in action roles, saying, “When you get a woman fighting, you’ll be surprised at what she can pull off.”
Ballerina, which stars Keanu Reeves, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, and Anjelica Huston, is set to hit theaters on June 6, 2025. With Armas leading the way, the film promises to deliver a fresh perspective on the John Wick universe while reinforcing the demand for stronger female action leads.