Ana de Armas details 'embarrassing' first encounter with Keanu Reeves: 'Everyone at the table was shocked'

Ana de Armas is looking back at an awkward encounter with none other than Keanu Reeves. The actress is promoting her new movie 'Ballerina,' which is a spin-off of the fan-favorite 'John Wick' franchise. Most recently, she attended CinemaCon, where she accepted the Action Star of the Year award for her upcoming role in the action-packed movie.

During her heartfelt acceptance speech, the actress recalled an "embarrassing" moment with the Hollywood star. The two actors first worked together in 2015 on the thriller 'Knock Knock,' but it was during their initial meeting that the actress experienced what she described as an embarrassing moment that she would never forget.

Sitting across from the actor at a table in Santiago, Chile, Ana recalled being nervous about her English skills and struggling to follow the conversation, the topic turned to Keanu's iconic role in 'The Matrix.'

© Variety

He casually asked her if she had seen the movie, to which Ana, completely unaware of the cultural significance of the movie at the time, said, "The Matrix? No.”

© Variety

“Everyone at the table was shocked,” she said about the reaction on set. "Someone came to me and told me in Spanish, 'You haven’t seen La Matrix?’ And I was like, 'Oh, La Matrix? Yeah, I have seen that one,” she admitted with a laugh. 

© Alberto E. Rodriguez

“That will never not be embarrassing," Ana declared. The two stars would go on to form a meaningful collaboration in the 'John Wick' universe despite their first meeting. 

“I’m just so happy that life brought us back together in such meaningful ways,” she shared during her CinemaCon speech. "There wouldn't be 'Ballerina' without 'John Wick,' and for sure there wouldn’t be John Wick without Keanu Reeves.”'

“He has, through this character and what he’s done with this franchise, given me the opportunity to be a part of this world, and I am so honored and grateful," she added. “Here I am 10 years later, receiving the Action Star of the Year award for Ballerina, but there wouldn’t be Ballerina without John Wick."