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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Ana de Armas interview: Ballerina, John Wick spinoff and screaming for action scenes
Actress Ana de Armas had to scream before she could kill in John Wick movie spin-off Ballerina SINGAPORE – Actress Ana de Armas was making all the right moves when it came to the fight scenes in the movie From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina, but something was missing. 'I would do the stunts, but it felt too choreographed. The stunt team said, 'Come on, you have to start getting into character, to feel her rage and passion,'' she tells The Straits Times in a Zoom interview. The team offered a suggestion: screaming. 'They taught me how to scream myself ready. We screamed at one another . It became my way to get in the right mindset. The energy would wake me up in the morning, or at 3am, when we were shooting at night. I would just start jumping up and down and screaming, to get the blood flowing,' says de Armas, 37. Once the crew members heard her screams, they readied the cameras. The vocal exercise worked. Viewers will see the Cuban-Spanish star punching, shooting and throwing grenades in From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina, which opens in Singapore cinemas on June 5. She is no stranger to action movies, having appeared in the Netflix thriller The Gray Man (2022) and the James Bond film No Time To Die (2021). As its full title suggests, Ballerina is set in the assassin-filled fantasy universe made popular through the John Wick films (2014 to 2023). This is the first movie spin- off after four films in the franchise, with a story set in the period between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). De Armas plays Eve Macarro, daughter of Javier (David Castaneda), a hitman murdered by a highly secretive cult led by the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Winston (Ian McShane), manager of the Continental Hotel – a haven for hired killers – takes the child (Victoria Comte, who plays the younger version of the character) under his wing. He sends her to the Ruska Roma, a ballet academy run by the Director (Anjelica Huston). The Director's aim: to mould students into adults who are as good at killing as they are in dance. Years later, Eve sets out on a mission of vengeance. Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina. PHOTO: MURRAY CLOSE As the lead character in Ballerina, de Armas says there were two duties on her shoulders: to be strong enough to perform the big fight scenes and achieve that strength safely. 'Everything I've done before has been a step towards getting to this place. With each movie, the complexity of the action increased. 'But the challenge in Ballerina had no comparison with anything I've done before. The training was three to four months, every day, many hours a day – combat training, handling weapons. There was a level of commitment and discipline I didn't know before. All of a sudden, I was training like an athlete,' she says. But she had to listen to her body and learn to not push it too far. She would not only be harming herself, but she would also be putting everyone else's job at risk. 'I had to take care of my body – nutrition, diet, self-care, therapy, chiropractors, all kinds of people taking care of my body. Because if I get injured or something happens, the movie stops for a week or two and we can't afford that. I had to be so committed to the project and to what I had to do to be able to provide for the whole crew,' she says. Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in Ballerina. PHOTO: LIONSGATE Keanu Reeves, as the gifted titular assassin John Wick, appears in Ballerina in a pivotal role. It is not de Armas' first collaboration with the 60-year-old Canadian actor. Her career began in Spain and Cuba, before she moved to Hollywood in her mid-20s. One of her first English-speaking roles was in the psychosexual thriller Knock Knock (2015), playing one of two stranded women who terrorise Reeves' character in his own home. She was then not yet fluent in English and had memorised the dialogue phonetically. She would, however, be fluent by the time she was cast in films like science-fiction epic Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and mystery thriller Knives Out (2019), and took the title role in the Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde (2022), for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. It felt good to be reunited with Reeves on Ballerina 10 years later, de Armas says. This time, however, she was not only more mature, but her grasp of English also helped her to understand him better, allowing him to be more relaxed and natural as an actor, she says. Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas at the From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina global premiere in London on May 22. PHOTO: REUTERS 'I loved working with Keanu on Ballerina. I have so much respect and admiration for him as a person and actor. I was already a big fan of the John Wick movies. Being back on set with him, I could tell he was more comfortable in Ballerina than he was in Knock Knock. It was a beautiful full circle for both of us to reconnect, because so much has changed in our lives since then,' she says. American actor Norman Reedus, speaking to ST in a separate online interview, talked about his role as Daniel Pine, the estranged son of the Chancellor. Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine in Ballerina. PHOTO: LARRY D. HORRICKS FOR LIONSGATE 'Daniel's child became a target because of who his family is. Now, he's willing to fight everyone – not just his father, but also endless levels of assassins – to protect his child's innocence. 'When Eve arrives, he's suspicious at first. But since she's not shooting, he realises she might be able to help. Eve becomes an angel, an unexpected salvation when he's cornered and desperate to protect his child,' says Reedus, 56. Reedus got his breakthrough playing survivor-protagonist Daryl Dixon on 11 seasons of zombie horror series The Walking Dead (2010 to 2022). He is in two spin-off projects: Ballerina and the series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023 to present). Reedus and Reeves are motorcycle enthusiasts who were out riding in Los Angeles when they first met by accident at a traffic light, as Reedus recounted on talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2024, without specifying the year. They quickly bonded over their shared love of two-wheelers, with Reeves eventually appearing as a guest on the sixth season of the Reedus-hosted motorcycle docuseries Ride With Norman Reedus (2016 to present). He calls Reeves an 'honest person and a good hero'. In real life, the Hollywood superstar is just like the type of hero he tends to portray on screen – the one who never calls attention to himself and wins through quiet determination, says Reedus. Reeves is 'just a guy getting through life... he's doing the work and you root for him. I think people naturally root for Keanu in real life because he's that guy', adds Reedus. American director Len Wiseman, who makes his John Wick debut with Ballerina, received some advice about the franchise from Reeves. Ana de Armas as Eve and director Len Wiseman behind the scenes in Ballerina. PHOTO: LARRY D. HORRICKS FOR LIONSGATE The 52-year-old is best known for his work on the Kate Beckinsale-headlined vampire-werewolf action horror film franchise Underworld (2003 to 2016) and the remake of science-fiction thriller Total Recall (2012). Speaking to ST while seated next to de Armas, he remembers asking Reeves a question. 'I was putting together a shot and asked Keanu, 'Would it be weird if you looked down into this lens for a portion of the dialogue?'' says Wiseman. The actor then offered the director the mantra that has kept the John Wick enterprise going since 2014. 'He said, 'If it's cool, it's not weird.'' From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina opens in Singapore cinemas on June 5. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ana de Armas recalls screaming and running for her life on set of new movie
Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas has two major blockbusters coming out this summer - but she was scared for her life on the set of one of them that filmed in Australia Ana de Armas has revealed she was left screaming and running for her life on the set of her latest film. The 37-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress has the lead role in new action film Ballerina - itself a spin-off of the Keanu Reeves fronted John Wick film series. The new movie sees Ana playing a character named Eve Macarro, who was training as a ballerina before falling into a world of espionage and peril. While promoting the new film, Ana also shared anecdotes from the set of another action film she stars in. She is among the cast of Ron Howard's survival thriller Eden - which was initially released in 2024 but is set to be released in the UK in July. The action flick, which also stars Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney, was filmed in Australia - but the set was frequently invaded by scaly visitors. Ana has explained that a snake catcher was on hand at all times to remove such unwanted pests. Speaking to Stellar Magazine, Ana revealed that the cast and crew would run screaming at the warning of reptiles. She recalled: "I remember at random times on set, people just screaming, 'Snake!' "Stopping the take right away – whatever was happening, whoever was talking – we literally dropped everything and ran away, waiting for the guy to come with the stick and take the snake out." She added: "But I think we were fine... no accidents happened." While Ana has a busy summer ahead of film releases ahead of her, she has been attracting even more interest from fans in recent months as rumours swirl that she is dating Tom Cruise. The pair have been spotted out for dinner together and Tom has even flown the actress around in helicopters. Ana is no stranger to dating high profile men - having been married to Spanish model Marc Clotet from 2011 until 2013, dated Ben Affleck from early 2020 until late 2021, and more recently she was linked to the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. But she has reportedly been warned about getting close to 62-year-old Tom. After they were spied seemingly enjoying a Valentine's meal together earlier this year, a source insisted to People that the pair were merely "discussing potential collaborations down the line." They added that the pair "appeared to have no romantic connection, just friends." Fans have been left unconvinced, however, and many have taken to social media to comment about the apparent bond between the Hollywood stars - while also expressing concerns about Tom's dramatic, headline-grabbing past. He has not had the best luck on the romantic front - having been married three times, with each marriage resulting in divorce. He has also been linked to the controversial religion Scientology. He reportedly joined the Church of Scientology in 1986 after allegedly being introduced by his first wife, Mimi Rogers. The organisation has been slammed as a cult by many and it was invented by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. The secretive society reportedly sees members unlock different levels within the organisation by paying certain amounts of money to rise up through the ranks - while also allegedly handing over personal details. Many who have escaped the organisation have claimed they have been followed and intimidated by other members. It has been suggested that Tom's dedication to the organisation sparked the collapse of his marriage to his second wife, Nicole Kidman - however the Aussie star cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for her request for divorce when they split in 2001.
Evening Standard
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Ana de Armas playfully breaks her silence on Tom Cruise amid romance rumours
The Cuban-Spanish actress has made no secret of her admiration for the Top Gun star and previously told USA Today how she hoped to master the skill of doing her own stunts like him.
Extra.ie
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Tom Cruise splashes the cash to get new girlfriend to airport
Tom Cruise is pulling out all the stops to show his love for new girlfriend Ana de Armas, ensuring that the Cuban-Spanish actress doesn't even need to worry about getting to the airport! The airport can be a stressful place, particularly if you're relying on public transport to get you there on time. The AirCoach is fortunately quite reliable here in Ireland, but de Armas need not worry as her Mission Impossible beau guaranteed there was no Risky Business in getting her to Heathrow on time. Tom Cruise is pulling out all the stops to show his love for new girlfriend Ana de Armas, ensuring that the Cuban-Spanish actress doesn't even need to worry about getting to the airport! Pic:for Paramount Pictures The Sun report that the 62-year-old actor and film producer splashed the cash on his other half ahead of her trip to New York City as he chartered his own private helicopter to get her to the airport. Ana travelled in style from central London to Heathrow Airport via Tom's £1m (€1.1m) helicopter at a cost of £4,850 (€5,752). Arriving to the airport via a helicopter means you simply have to wait for your flight at the airport's VIP Windsor Suite, costing the actor a further £3,812 (€4,521). Ana travelled in style from central London to Heathrow Airport via Tom's £1m (€1.1m) helicopter at a cost of £4,850 (€5,752). Pic: PascalAna flew from Heathrow to NYC via British Airways with the cost of her plane ticket alleged to have cost half of what Tom spent in getting her to the flight. A girl can dream! A source told The Sun that the actor wants to make sure Ana knows she can 'have the best of the best' and not 'think twice about the bill.' 'He's a total gent and just wants to do right by Ana,' they said. The stars were first linked together on Valentine's Day, with their romance recently confirmed when they both attended David Beckham's birthday party. Daily Mail report it's not the first time Ana has enjoyed the luxury mode of transport with the Knives Out star spotted on a number of helicopter trips with Tom. They added that there are reports that the Top Gun star is lining his girlfriend up to play the lead role in one of his upcoming films.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Victoria Beckham appears to confirm Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas 'romance' with photo blunder
Victoria Beckham has appeared to accidentally confirmed Tom Cruise's rumoured romance with Ana de Armas as she shared a tribute to husband David, following his 50th birthday bash in London. The former Spice Girl-turned-designer, 51, shared a number of snaps from the big night at Core restaurant in Notting Hill, where other celeb attendees included Gordon Ramsay, Eva Longoria, and Guy Ritchie. Among the images was one that showed the birthday boy and long-time friend Cruise, 62, enjoying a animated catch up as they both sported matching white tuxedos and black bowties. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The frame that really stood out however featured de Armas, 37, in the background looking shocked as the festivities unfolded around her. David Beckham was pictured enjoying a animated catch up with long-time friend Tom Crusie (Instagram @victoriabeckhaminstagram) She was seen leaving the event with Cruise in the early hours of the morning, just days after they were spotted together in the captial for her birthday. While they have yet to comment publicly on the status of their relationship, they are reportedly working on a project together. Anna de Armas can be seen in the background of one snap shared online (Instagram @victoriabeckham) The Cuban-Spanish actress has made no secret of her admiration for the Mission Impossible star and previously told USA Today how she hoped to master the skill of doing her own stunts like him. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The real talk of the party however was the absence of David and Victoria's eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz. It followed rumours of a feud between the Beckham family, with Brooklyn apparently on bad terms with the rest of his family members due to his younger brother Romeo's relationship with his old school friend, Kim Turnbull. David hosted a number of high-profile events in the lead up to his milestone birthday, but Brooklyn and his other half failed to make an appearance at a single one. According to TMZ, the couple cancelled plans to attend the Met Gala on Monday in order to attend David's big party the night before. However, they apparently had one condition: that Turnbull not be present. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The family said no, which resulted in Brooklyn being a no-show. A source told the US news outlet: 'They cancelled plans to attend the Met because they really intended to be at David's party on Saturday. 'But Brooklyn is really upset that blame for the rift has been levelled at Nicola. 'She has never told him what to do and has been nothing but supportive — she's a loyal wife.' In a confusing twist, David and Victoria's youngest son said 'Brooklyn and Kim never dated' in reply to a fan on Instagram who asked about the situation.
