Keanu Reeves Might Not Visibly Age, But He Has Still Struggled with Getting Older: ‘I Had the Classic 40 Meltdown’
Few action stars truly hit their prime later in life. Yet, after hits like Speed and The Matrix, Keanu Reeves appears to have done just that. Thanks to the John Wick series, the actor currently leads arguably one of Hollywood’s most beloved action franchises. As fans have noted, Reeves certainly retains his youthful appearance. But he has still struggled with age.
Fans often talk about how Keanu Reeves doesn’t seem to age
In recent years, Reeves has experienced a major career resurgence. But in addition, he has also claimed the title of “the internet’s boyfriend.” Jada Pinkett Smith — who co-stars with Reeves in The Matrix sequels — once attempted to explain why fans find the actor so irresistible. And she proclaimed Reeves’ sweetness and mystery to be what makes him so appealing.
Certainly, part of the mystery surrounding Reeves is how he never seems to age. Despite being a big-screen star since the 1980s, the actor has noticeably aged remarkably well. Although he is now 56 years old, Reeves appears younger and more energetic than many of his co-stars. Fan theories have even sprung about that perhaps the actor is immortal after all.
But the actor has openly grappled with his age over the years
Yet, despite these wild notions, Reeves apparently ages just like everyone else. In fact, he has faced the same personal journey others do with regards to his mortality. In an interview with CTV, he even shared the startling revelation of turning 40 and how it affected his outlook on life.
”I had the classic 40 meltdown. I did. It’s embarrassing. It was pretty funny. But then I recovered. To me, it was like a second adolescence. Hormonally, my body was changing. My mind was changing. And so my relationship to myself and the world around me came to this assault of finiteness. … It was also the end of the projection of my younger self. I came to the place where I thought, ‘I don’t know where I am anymore. But where have I come from, and what am I doing?'”
Reeves’ philosophical response to that particular milestone feels perfectly in keeping with his measured response to everything else. He was even once asked how he confronted aging and reportedly explained he views with with “wonder and terror.”
In his mid-50s, Keanu Reeves is busier and more popular than ever
Regardless of his age, Reeves is undeniably more popular now than ever before. 2014’s John Wick set the tone for the next phase of his career. And the growing success of its sequels — as well as smaller roles in Toy Story 4 and Netflix comedy Always Be My Maybe — kept that momentum going. After Bill and Ted Face the Music, Reeves reprises his most famous role.
In December 2021, The Matrix 4 will hit theaters, with Reeves returning opposite Carrie-Anne Moss. Beyond that, the actor is signed on for at least two more John Wick sequels. So Reeves fans have a lot to be excited about. With so much going on, perhaps the notion of Speed 3 — as joked about by Sandra Bullock — isn’t as far-fetched as it seems.
