Keanu Reeves’ Agent’s First Piece of Advice Was to Improve His Personal Hygiene

Keanu Reeves‘ career displays two separate aesthetics: his rebellious teenager phase and a more serious action star. His career from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure to John Wick spans various different looks. However, he gave off a very different vibe after scoring his first official television gig. Reeves’ agent’s first piece of advice was to take a shower and take his personal hygiene more seriously.

Keanu Reeves’ first professional television gig was ‘Hangin’ In’

Brian J. Robbs’ Keanu Reeves: An Excellent Adventure takes a closer look into Reeves’ history, including his first professional television gig called Hangin’ In. The Canadian show follows a youth counseling center, where plenty of other Canadian actors got their start.

Reeves recalled his one line in Hangin’ In, although it was enough to launch Reeves’ career. The show frequently cast young actors and gave them a shot at increasing their chances at true stardom.

“It was a three-camera shoot, and I played a tough street kid,” Reeves said. “I wore stupid clothes and had no idea of what I was doing. My line was, ‘Hey lady, can I use the shower?'”

Keanu Reeves’ agent’s first piece of advice was to improve his personal hygiene

Keanu Reeves: An Excellent Adventure explores how Hangin’ In did the trick for Reeves. He got more work and even scored an agent named Tracy Moore at Noble Talent. However, she would have some particular words for the young actor to help him in the industry.

The first piece of advice Moore gave Reeves was to take a shower. He didn’t put much emphasis on his personal hygiene, which was a particular problem. Robbs’ biography recalled him as a scatterbrain, so showering wasn’t at the top of his list of things to do. However, Reeves didn’t see any issue with it.

“We didn’t want him to be remembered as a smelly, sloppy kid,” Moore said. “His attitude was that didn’t have anything to do with his acting ability.”

Reeves would ultimately get his audition for a TV movie called Young Again. As a result, he worked his way into bigger projects and ultimately became the star that he is today.

‘The Matrix’ and ‘John Wick’ aesthetic

Actors with a lack of hygiene such as Twilight star Robert Pattinson are often criticized. This priority certainly comes into account when actors need to work with their co-stars, particularly in intimate scenes. In Pattinson’s case, he admitted to never washing his hair. However, he later said that he changed his personal hygiene habits. It’s clear that Reeves also changed his habits over time.

Some of Reeves’ most memorable recent roles include his work as Neo in The Matrix films and playing the title character in the John Wick franchise. As a result, he has a very successful career with instant brand recognition. Reeves still has that “cool” aesthetic but in an action hero way. Now, he rocks a longer hairstyle.