Keanu Reeves is one of the humblest human beings on the planet. Known for being extremely generous and down-to-earth, the Matrix actor is also one of the biggest action stars in the entire world. Despite having a now net worth of about $380 million, he is one of his harshest critics ever.
Keanu Reeves
In one interview, done ages ago, Keanu Reeves pointed out how he used to hate acting and considered himself pretty bad at it. This was just before the star went on to a neverending rollercoaster of fame and popularity.
Keanu Reeves Used To Hate Acting
Keanu Reeves in a still from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Keanu Reeves has led a pretty tumultuous personal life. Even after becoming a huge star in Hollywood and going through a hard time growing up, the Speed actor has not let go of his modest and humble personality. While he is an effortless laidback actor, there was a time when he hated acting and hated himself as an actor.
Reeves got his big break in the 1989 movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In a then-unpublished interview, at just the age of 22, Reeves opened up about his performance in his breakthrough role.
“Well… I don’t know if I’m acting now. I’m pretty bad. I mean, I’m OK. I was just this guy who didn’t know what he was doing, but it was fun… I hate acting most of the time that I do it. I have other interests, but none as all-consuming as this godawful job.”
He answered with a frown when questioned how long had he been in the profession. And just days after, Keanu Reeves ended up playing some of his most iconic characters in movies like Dangerous Liaisons, Point Break, and Speed. Hence, it seems surprising and unbelievable that the Matrix star once considered himself a bad actor. But given his humble persona, one would say it is very characteristic of him.
How The Matrix Propelled Keanu Reeves’ Career
Keanu Reeves in a still from Matrix
Released in 1999, Keanu Reeves’ iconic Matrix role is amongst his most memorable ones. The film’s groundbreaking storyline and impressive special effects coupled with Reeves’ effortless acting earned the movie critical worldwide appraisal. Headed toward winning several Academy Awards, the movie also helped the star gain widespread recognition and solidified his position as one of the leading actors in Hollywood.
Following the iconic scenes, memorable quotes, and philosophical themes of Matrix led to two more successful sequels of the film that further helped Keanu Reeves gain an edge over others in his brilliantly triumphant career. Thanks to the movie, before he knew it, Reeves was one of the most demanded and sought-after actors of all time and has been going strong ever since.
You can stream the Matrix trilogy on HBO Max.