Latest news with #deArmas
Elle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Where Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise's Relationship Stands Amid Dating Rumors
THE RUNDOWN Actress Ana de Armas is officially single following a relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Cuba's president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. They were first spotted sharing a kiss in November 2024. By May 2025, it was rumored they had split, but the breakup was confirmed by a source speaking to People this week. Amid her distance from Cuesta, rumors have followed de Armas as she preps for an upcoming film with actor Tom Cruise. The pair has been seen spending time together, leading to whispers of a romantic relationship. But the source indicated she and Cruise are simply working on the Doug Liman-directed thriller, Deeper. De Armas was also supposedly receiving advice from Cruise as she trained for her movie Ballerina, set in the John Wick universe. The movie is filled with stunts, which Cruise is famous for doing in his own films. 'Tom is crazy hardworking and she's very excited to work with him. She calls it an opportunity of a lifetime,' said the insider. 'Tom is an incredible mentor to Ana. She has nothing but amazing things to say about him.' This week, Cruise and de Armas were photographed together again, enjoying some sunshine on a yacht near the island of Menorca, just off the coast of Spain. The source emphasized that their connection is 'not romantic.' In February, a source told People something similar after they were seen having dinner together with their agents, during which they were supposedly 'discussing potential collaborations down the line' and 'appeared to have no romantic connection, just friends.' They have since been seen in London, after attending David Beckham's 50th birthday party, and then again in early May taking a walk through the park on de Armas's 37th birthday. In June, the actress told Variety that Cruise's support for Ballerina was 'unbelievable' and 'amazing.' 'It is very special that someone like him is supporting,' she shared. 'It is really special in general to have other actors and people supporting each other. We can do well all together.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Eden' Teaser: Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby Endure an Unhinged Ana de Armas in the Wilderness
Is there such a thing as creating your own paradise? Well, the star-studded cast of Ron Howard's 'Eden' are about to find out. Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, and Sydney Sweeney lead the film, which dramatizes the 'shocking true story' (per the film's official logline) of a group of disillusioned outsiders who left civilization to start their own society on a remote, uninhabited island. Of course, the clan later discovered that the 'greatest threat isn't the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other,' as the synopsis tells us. 'As tensions spiral and desperation takes hold, a twisted power struggle unfolds, leading to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.' More from IndieWire Brad Pitt Says David Fincher 'Reinvigorated' His Love of Acting During 'Se7en' James Cameron Expects 'Ghosts of Hiroshima' to Be His Lowest Grossing Film Ever Noah Pink wrote the script with Howard directing, as well as producing alongside Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder, Stuart Ford, William M. Connor, and Patrick Newall. And for those wondering, yes, the 'Eden' cast did actually rough it themselves. De Armas previously told Vanity Fair that starring in 'Eden' pushed her to get to her 'craziest' self onscreen, with the publication also citing that Howard 'actually had to push back on both Law and Kirby's commitment to Method, Floreana-style living.' De Armas admitted that she was 'a little scared' to take on the role, as the film is 'really out there.' She later decided that she 'wanted the challenge' of starring in the feature. 'Having this crazy threesome relationship, and being a woman of opposites — either she's sweet and tender and fragile and nervous and scared, or she's absolutely crazy and dangerous, it was kind of finding that limit. What was the craziest I could get? How far could I go?,' de Armas said. The 'Ballerina' star later explained why the singing aspect of the film was part of the stress of shooting. 'I just couldn't convince [Howard] to let me lip sync so I had to learn the song. It was horrible. I was terrified,' de Armas said. 'I would rather do 100 stunts than sing that song. It was terrifying because it's also in front of all the actors. I just felt very exposed and vulnerable and it's not one of my talents for sure.' However, it all proved to be worth it: The IndieWire review for 'Eden' deemed de Armas a 'scream in a cast filled with standout performances.' Vertical will release 'Eden' in theaters on Friday, August 22. Check out the teaser below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See Solve the daily Crossword
Express Tribune
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Katie Holmes reacts to Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas romance rumours with one surprising move
Katie Holmes appears to have given a subtle nod of approval to her ex-husband Tom Cruise's rumoured new relationship with Ana de Armas. The actress liked a Daily Mail Instagram post from May that showed Cruise and de Armas arriving in London together, reportedly just days before her 37th birthday. The post included photos of the pair stepping out of a helicopter, fuelling ongoing rumours about their connection. One Instagram commenter quickly pointed out Holmes' unexpected engagement with the post, writing, 'Did anyone else notice that Katie Holmes liked the post?' Though representatives for Holmes, Cruise, and de Armas have not responded to requests for comment, fans are speculating that the social media gesture may be more than accidental. Holmes and Cruise share a daughter, Suri, and were married from 2006 until 2012. Romance rumours around Cruise and de Armas first emerged in February, when they were spotted walking through London's Soho neighbourhood on the eve of Valentine's Day. Later sightings included strolls in a park and multiple joint helicopter arrivals, sometimes accompanied by director Doug Liman. While their chemistry has sparked public curiosity, sources have previously denied any romantic involvement, insisting their meetings are related to professional projects. De Armas recently addressed her collaboration with Cruise on 'Good Morning America,' saying they are working on multiple projects with Liman and filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie. According to reports, Cruise and de Armas are both attached to an upcoming film titled Deeper, directed by Liman. Whether the relationship remains strictly professional or something more, Holmes' quiet online move has only added fuel to the conversation.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ana de Armas sells sleek NYC loft for $3.5M as Tom Cruise romance heats up — here's where she's headed next
After nearly a year of price cuts and market reshuffling, actress Ana de Armas has sold her Soho loft for $3.5 million — the exact amount she last asked — marking the end of her relatively brief stint as a New York City homeowner. Armas purchased the two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom apartment in 2021 for $2.9 million, according to The sleek, high-ceilinged dwelling underwent a major redesign by celebrity interior designer Nate Berkus and included luxurious details like Moroccan tile backsplashes, marble countertops, a spa-style bath and a custom leather banquette dining nook. The residence first came to market in August 2023 for $4.3 million, was lowered to $3.99 million in March 2024, pulled in June and ultimately returned in February at its final asking price — where it has now found a buyer. The 'Ballerina' star's exit from Manhattan real estate coincides with a broader lifestyle shift. In late 2022, de Armas purchased a $7.2 million off-grid estate in Vermont — a sprawling, secluded property featuring six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, panoramic mountain views, a swimming pool and ample wooded trails. 5 She bought the two-bedroom, 2.5-bath apartment in this building for $2.9 million in 2021 and had the space renovated by interior designer Nate Berkus, with high-end finishes including a chef's kitchen and spa-style bathroom. That home spans more than 8,000 square feet and was originally listed for $7.5 million before the actress negotiated the price down, records show. While she's kept the exact location and features of the Vermont retreat private, de Armas has shared glimpses of its surroundings on Instagram, showing autumn foliage, a fire pit and lovely vistas. She described the property as her 'little cocoon' in a 2024 interview with E! News. 5 Actress Ana de Armas has sold her Soho loft in New York City for $3.5 million, the full asking price, after originally listing it for $4.3 million in 2023. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 'I found a home where I really feel off the grid,' she said. 'I can collect myself and only bring there who I want to be with.' The decision to leave city life behind, she explained, was driven by a desire to escape 'the craziness of the world.' 'We all want to have the chance to build your own safe space,' she added. 'I've made that decision myself.' 5 The sale marks a significant lifestyle shift for de Armas, who left the city and Hollywood behind in favor of a quieter life in Vermont. Ana de Armas/Instagram 5 In November 2022, she purchased an off-grid, fully furnished $7.2 million estate there, which includes six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a pool, sauna, mountain views and miles of trails. Ana de Armas/Instagram Despite her quiet relocation, De Armas, 37, has been at the center of romance rumors involving actor Tom Cruise. The two were first spotted dining together in London in February and have since made several joint appearances, including a walk in the park on her birthday and a discreet departure from David Beckham's party. Though neither party has confirmed the relationship, de Armas offered a hint of chemistry in a May 'Good Morning America' interview, saying the pair are 'working on a lot of' projects together and are having 'fun.' 5 Her relocation to Vermont comes as she reportedly grows closer to Tom Cruise. BACKGRID The rumored pairing caught attention online when Tom Cruise's ex-wife, Katie Holmes, appeared to like an Instagram post about the developing relationship. Her subtle nod drew commentary from fans, with one Reddit user joking, 'Celebs, sometimes they're just like us, stalking and accidentally liking posts about their exes.' De Armas' high-profile dating history includes a year-long relationship with Ben Affleck, as well as brief romances with Tinder executive Paul Boukadakis and Manuel Anido Cuesta, stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The Advertiser
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Life has come full circle for new John Wick star
Years before Ana de Armas was using an ice skate to slice a neck in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, she co-starred with Keanu Reeves in a much different film. The erotic thriller Knock Knock, released in 2015, was de Armas' first Hollywood film. De Armas, born and raised in Cuba, had just come to Los Angeles after acting in Spain. English was new to her, so she had to learn her lines phonetically. "It was tough and I felt miserable at times and very lonely," she says. "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, her rise to stardom has been one of the last decade's most meteoric. She was radiant even as a hologram in Blade Runner 2049. She stole the show in Rian Johnson's star-studded Knives Out. She breezed through the Bond movie No Time to Die and was Oscar nominated for her Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. And now, 10 years after those scenes with Reeves, de Armas is for the first time headlining a big summer action movie. In Ballerina, de Armas's progressive development as an unlikely action star reaches a butt-kicking crescendo, inheriting the mantle of one of the most esteemed, high-body-count franchises. "It's a big moment in my career, and I know that. I can see that," she says. "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." While de Armas, 37, isn't new to movie stardom, or the tabloid coverage that comes with it, many of her career highlights have been streaming releases. The Gray Man and Blonde were Netflix. Ghosted was Apple TV+. But Ballerina will rely on de Armas (and abiding "John Wick" fandom) to put moviegoers in seats. Reviews, particularly for de Armas playing a ballerina-assassin, have been good. "There's a lot of pressure," says 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, whose talents include the ability to be present and personable on even the most frenzied red carpets, has done the globe-trotting work to make Ballerina a big deal: appearing at CinemaCon, gamely eating hot wings and cheerfully deflecting questions about her next film, Deeper, with Tom Cruise. Yet for someone so comfortable in the spotlight, one of the more interesting facts about de Armas is that she lives part-time in that bastion of young A-listers: Vermont. "Yeah, it surprised many people," she says, chuckling. "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." Winding up in northern New England is just as unexpected as landing an action movie like Ballerina. She grew up with the conviction, from age 12, that she would be an actor. But she studied theatre. "I never thought I was going to do action," de Armas says. "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." De Armas also had bad asthma, which makes some of the things she does in Ballerina - a movie with a flamethrower duel - all the more remarkable to her. "I couldn't do anything," she remembers. "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 auditioned and got into Havana's National Theatre of Cuba. Four years later, with Spanish citizenship through her grandparents, she moved to Madrid to pursue acting. When she arrived in LA in 2014, she had to start all over again. Now as one of the top Latina stars in Hollywood, she's watched as immigrant paths like hers have grown increasingly arduous if not impossible. The Trump administration recently announced a travel ban on 12 countries and heavy restrictions on citizens of other countries, including Cuba. "I got here at a time when things were definitely easier in that sense," says de Armas, who announced her then-imminent US citizenship while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2023. "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." Chad Stahelski, director of the four John Wick films and producer of Ballerina, was about to start production on John Wick: Chapter 4 when producer Basil Iwanyk called to set up a Zoom about casting de Armas. He quickly watched every scene she had been in. "How many people would have played the Bond girl kind of goofy like that?" he asks. "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 humour out of someone is trickier. But she had it." In Knives Out, Stahelski saw someone who could go from scared and uncertain to a look of "I'm going to stab you in the eye". "I like that in my action heroes," he says. "I don't want to see the stoic, superhero vibe where everything's going to be OK." But it wasn't just her acting or her charisma that convinced Stahelski. It was her life story. "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," says Stahelski. "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'." When that quote is read back to her, de Armas laughs, and agrees. "Being Cuban, and my upbringing and my family and everything I've done, I've never had a plan B," she says. "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. This is how I feed myself and my family. So it's also a sense of, I don't know, responsibility." That makes her reflect back to when she was just trying to make it in Hollywood, sounding out words and trying not to be intimidated by the action star across from her. "I was so committed to do it," she says. "When I give something a shot, I try my best, whatever that is. Then I can actually say: I gave it a shot." Years before Ana de Armas was using an ice skate to slice a neck in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, she co-starred with Keanu Reeves in a much different film. The erotic thriller Knock Knock, released in 2015, was de Armas' first Hollywood film. De Armas, born and raised in Cuba, had just come to Los Angeles after acting in Spain. English was new to her, so she had to learn her lines phonetically. "It was tough and I felt miserable at times and very lonely," she says. "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, her rise to stardom has been one of the last decade's most meteoric. She was radiant even as a hologram in Blade Runner 2049. She stole the show in Rian Johnson's star-studded Knives Out. She breezed through the Bond movie No Time to Die and was Oscar nominated for her Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. And now, 10 years after those scenes with Reeves, de Armas is for the first time headlining a big summer action movie. In Ballerina, de Armas's progressive development as an unlikely action star reaches a butt-kicking crescendo, inheriting the mantle of one of the most esteemed, high-body-count franchises. "It's a big moment in my career, and I know that. I can see that," she says. "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." While de Armas, 37, isn't new to movie stardom, or the tabloid coverage that comes with it, many of her career highlights have been streaming releases. The Gray Man and Blonde were Netflix. Ghosted was Apple TV+. But Ballerina will rely on de Armas (and abiding "John Wick" fandom) to put moviegoers in seats. Reviews, particularly for de Armas playing a ballerina-assassin, have been good. "There's a lot of pressure," says 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, whose talents include the ability to be present and personable on even the most frenzied red carpets, has done the globe-trotting work to make Ballerina a big deal: appearing at CinemaCon, gamely eating hot wings and cheerfully deflecting questions about her next film, Deeper, with Tom Cruise. Yet for someone so comfortable in the spotlight, one of the more interesting facts about de Armas is that she lives part-time in that bastion of young A-listers: Vermont. "Yeah, it surprised many people," she says, chuckling. "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." Winding up in northern New England is just as unexpected as landing an action movie like Ballerina. She grew up with the conviction, from age 12, that she would be an actor. But she studied theatre. "I never thought I was going to do action," de Armas says. "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." De Armas also had bad asthma, which makes some of the things she does in Ballerina - a movie with a flamethrower duel - all the more remarkable to her. "I couldn't do anything," she remembers. "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 auditioned and got into Havana's National Theatre of Cuba. Four years later, with Spanish citizenship through her grandparents, she moved to Madrid to pursue acting. When she arrived in LA in 2014, she had to start all over again. Now as one of the top Latina stars in Hollywood, she's watched as immigrant paths like hers have grown increasingly arduous if not impossible. The Trump administration recently announced a travel ban on 12 countries and heavy restrictions on citizens of other countries, including Cuba. "I got here at a time when things were definitely easier in that sense," says de Armas, who announced her then-imminent US citizenship while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2023. "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." Chad Stahelski, director of the four John Wick films and producer of Ballerina, was about to start production on John Wick: Chapter 4 when producer Basil Iwanyk called to set up a Zoom about casting de Armas. He quickly watched every scene she had been in. "How many people would have played the Bond girl kind of goofy like that?" he asks. "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 humour out of someone is trickier. But she had it." In Knives Out, Stahelski saw someone who could go from scared and uncertain to a look of "I'm going to stab you in the eye". "I like that in my action heroes," he says. "I don't want to see the stoic, superhero vibe where everything's going to be OK." But it wasn't just her acting or her charisma that convinced Stahelski. It was her life story. "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," says Stahelski. "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'." When that quote is read back to her, de Armas laughs, and agrees. "Being Cuban, and my upbringing and my family and everything I've done, I've never had a plan B," she says. "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. This is how I feed myself and my family. So it's also a sense of, I don't know, responsibility." That makes her reflect back to when she was just trying to make it in Hollywood, sounding out words and trying not to be intimidated by the action star across from her. "I was so committed to do it," she says. "When I give something a shot, I try my best, whatever that is. Then I can actually say: I gave it a shot." Years before Ana de Armas was using an ice skate to slice a neck in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, she co-starred with Keanu Reeves in a much different film. The erotic thriller Knock Knock, released in 2015, was de Armas' first Hollywood film. De Armas, born and raised in Cuba, had just come to Los Angeles after acting in Spain. English was new to her, so she had to learn her lines phonetically. "It was tough and I felt miserable at times and very lonely," she says. "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, her rise to stardom has been one of the last decade's most meteoric. She was radiant even as a hologram in Blade Runner 2049. She stole the show in Rian Johnson's star-studded Knives Out. She breezed through the Bond movie No Time to Die and was Oscar nominated for her Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. And now, 10 years after those scenes with Reeves, de Armas is for the first time headlining a big summer action movie. In Ballerina, de Armas's progressive development as an unlikely action star reaches a butt-kicking crescendo, inheriting the mantle of one of the most esteemed, high-body-count franchises. "It's a big moment in my career, and I know that. I can see that," she says. "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." While de Armas, 37, isn't new to movie stardom, or the tabloid coverage that comes with it, many of her career highlights have been streaming releases. The Gray Man and Blonde were Netflix. Ghosted was Apple TV+. But Ballerina will rely on de Armas (and abiding "John Wick" fandom) to put moviegoers in seats. Reviews, particularly for de Armas playing a ballerina-assassin, have been good. "There's a lot of pressure," says 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, whose talents include the ability to be present and personable on even the most frenzied red carpets, has done the globe-trotting work to make Ballerina a big deal: appearing at CinemaCon, gamely eating hot wings and cheerfully deflecting questions about her next film, Deeper, with Tom Cruise. Yet for someone so comfortable in the spotlight, one of the more interesting facts about de Armas is that she lives part-time in that bastion of young A-listers: Vermont. "Yeah, it surprised many people," she says, chuckling. "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." Winding up in northern New England is just as unexpected as landing an action movie like Ballerina. She grew up with the conviction, from age 12, that she would be an actor. But she studied theatre. "I never thought I was going to do action," de Armas says. "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." De Armas also had bad asthma, which makes some of the things she does in Ballerina - a movie with a flamethrower duel - all the more remarkable to her. "I couldn't do anything," she remembers. "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 auditioned and got into Havana's National Theatre of Cuba. Four years later, with Spanish citizenship through her grandparents, she moved to Madrid to pursue acting. When she arrived in LA in 2014, she had to start all over again. Now as one of the top Latina stars in Hollywood, she's watched as immigrant paths like hers have grown increasingly arduous if not impossible. The Trump administration recently announced a travel ban on 12 countries and heavy restrictions on citizens of other countries, including Cuba. "I got here at a time when things were definitely easier in that sense," says de Armas, who announced her then-imminent US citizenship while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2023. "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." Chad Stahelski, director of the four John Wick films and producer of Ballerina, was about to start production on John Wick: Chapter 4 when producer Basil Iwanyk called to set up a Zoom about casting de Armas. He quickly watched every scene she had been in. "How many people would have played the Bond girl kind of goofy like that?" he asks. "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 humour out of someone is trickier. But she had it." In Knives Out, Stahelski saw someone who could go from scared and uncertain to a look of "I'm going to stab you in the eye". "I like that in my action heroes," he says. "I don't want to see the stoic, superhero vibe where everything's going to be OK." But it wasn't just her acting or her charisma that convinced Stahelski. It was her life story. "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," says Stahelski. "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'." When that quote is read back to her, de Armas laughs, and agrees. "Being Cuban, and my upbringing and my family and everything I've done, I've never had a plan B," she says. "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. This is how I feed myself and my family. So it's also a sense of, I don't know, responsibility." That makes her reflect back to when she was just trying to make it in Hollywood, sounding out words and trying not to be intimidated by the action star across from her. "I was so committed to do it," she says. "When I give something a shot, I try my best, whatever that is. Then I can actually say: I gave it a shot." Years before Ana de Armas was using an ice skate to slice a neck in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, she co-starred with Keanu Reeves in a much different film. The erotic thriller Knock Knock, released in 2015, was de Armas' first Hollywood film. De Armas, born and raised in Cuba, had just come to Los Angeles after acting in Spain. English was new to her, so she had to learn her lines phonetically. "It was tough and I felt miserable at times and very lonely," she says. "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, her rise to stardom has been one of the last decade's most meteoric. She was radiant even as a hologram in Blade Runner 2049. She stole the show in Rian Johnson's star-studded Knives Out. She breezed through the Bond movie No Time to Die and was Oscar nominated for her Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. And now, 10 years after those scenes with Reeves, de Armas is for the first time headlining a big summer action movie. In Ballerina, de Armas's progressive development as an unlikely action star reaches a butt-kicking crescendo, inheriting the mantle of one of the most esteemed, high-body-count franchises. "It's a big moment in my career, and I know that. I can see that," she says. "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." While de Armas, 37, isn't new to movie stardom, or the tabloid coverage that comes with it, many of her career highlights have been streaming releases. The Gray Man and Blonde were Netflix. Ghosted was Apple TV+. But Ballerina will rely on de Armas (and abiding "John Wick" fandom) to put moviegoers in seats. Reviews, particularly for de Armas playing a ballerina-assassin, have been good. "There's a lot of pressure," says 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, whose talents include the ability to be present and personable on even the most frenzied red carpets, has done the globe-trotting work to make Ballerina a big deal: appearing at CinemaCon, gamely eating hot wings and cheerfully deflecting questions about her next film, Deeper, with Tom Cruise. Yet for someone so comfortable in the spotlight, one of the more interesting facts about de Armas is that she lives part-time in that bastion of young A-listers: Vermont. "Yeah, it surprised many people," she says, chuckling. "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." Winding up in northern New England is just as unexpected as landing an action movie like Ballerina. She grew up with the conviction, from age 12, that she would be an actor. But she studied theatre. "I never thought I was going to do action," de Armas says. "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." De Armas also had bad asthma, which makes some of the things she does in Ballerina - a movie with a flamethrower duel - all the more remarkable to her. "I couldn't do anything," she remembers. "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 auditioned and got into Havana's National Theatre of Cuba. Four years later, with Spanish citizenship through her grandparents, she moved to Madrid to pursue acting. When she arrived in LA in 2014, she had to start all over again. Now as one of the top Latina stars in Hollywood, she's watched as immigrant paths like hers have grown increasingly arduous if not impossible. The Trump administration recently announced a travel ban on 12 countries and heavy restrictions on citizens of other countries, including Cuba. "I got here at a time when things were definitely easier in that sense," says de Armas, who announced her then-imminent US citizenship while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2023. "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." Chad Stahelski, director of the four John Wick films and producer of Ballerina, was about to start production on John Wick: Chapter 4 when producer Basil Iwanyk called to set up a Zoom about casting de Armas. He quickly watched every scene she had been in. "How many people would have played the Bond girl kind of goofy like that?" he asks. "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 humour out of someone is trickier. But she had it." In Knives Out, Stahelski saw someone who could go from scared and uncertain to a look of "I'm going to stab you in the eye". "I like that in my action heroes," he says. "I don't want to see the stoic, superhero vibe where everything's going to be OK." But it wasn't just her acting or her charisma that convinced Stahelski. It was her life story. "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," says Stahelski. "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'." When that quote is read back to her, de Armas laughs, and agrees. "Being Cuban, and my upbringing and my family and everything I've done, I've never had a plan B," she says. "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. This is how I feed myself and my family. So it's also a sense of, I don't know, responsibility." That makes her reflect back to when she was just trying to make it in Hollywood, sounding out words and trying not to be intimidated by the action star across from her. "I was so committed to do it," she says. "When I give something a shot, I try my best, whatever that is. Then I can actually say: I gave it a shot."
