There's something about Keanu!
No matter the decade, Keanu Reeves has managed to keep himself in the spotlight for his versatile acting skills, where he has racked up several career-defining performances. His ability to bring a wide range of characters to the big screen hasn't been the only irresistible element to Reeves' long-lasting appeal; The actor has made headlines over the years about how genuinely kind and down-to-Earth he is. Reeves' reputation as one of Hollywood's 'good guys' has been solidified in recent years in relation to his unwavering respect for women, particularly praised for being a diamond in the rough in the #MeToo era.
Reeves' charm and charisma aren't a recent development and these attributes haven't been lost on his co-stars, particularly his leading lady in both 1994's Speed and 2006's The Lake House. Sandra Bullock made movie magic with Reeves twice, with their performances becoming fan favorites. The pair's visible chemistry plays a valuable part in both films and is not a typical tale of two actors getting to know one another and letting one another go after shooting is complete. Bullock and Reeves developed a sincere and long-lasting friendship that still stands today!
Sandra And Keanu Bring Their Friendship Up To 'Speed'
Speed was a groundbreaking role for Reeves, allowing him to show a more serious side after starring in the cult classic Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure. The film not only turned out to be a success at the box office but in Reeves' personal archive as well. Speed remains one of his most cherished projects; he remembers having many memorable moments behind-the-scenes, as per Entertainment Tonight.
The elaborate stunts aren't the only nostalgic experience on the Speed set for Reeves; He highly regards his meeting and working with Bullock on the film as a top experience! The duo was able to find their footing together as co-stars, with Reeves crediting "[Bullock's] talent in all of the environments" on set. His praise for Bullock's artistic talents proved to run deeper; he went on to describe working with her as being "Authentic," and crediting Bullock's sense of humor to be the same.
A Friendship With Flirty Fun Mixed In
An action film may have brought these two actors together, but the action didn't stop with Speed's storyline!
Reeves and Bullock developed a fun friendship while the cameras weren't rolling. The co-stars' budding friendship and mutual adoration of one another is on full display in promotional material for Speed; One video, in particular, shows Reeves glowing and giddily laughing as he describes what it was like to act alongside Bullock. Halfway through the interview, Bullock hijacks her friend's interview, and the duo share a fun moment with a hint of flirtation!
There is an explanation for the tinge of flirty fun the co-stars had on display, although it did not come to light until fairly recently.
Reeves and Bullock's mutual adoration and respect for one another ran deep, if not in a bit of a secretive manner. A few years ago, Ellen DeGeneres attempted to get down to business and figure out to see if the duo ever explored the possibility of becoming more than friends. DeGeneres asked Bullock during her appearance on The Ellen Show in 2018 how she felt about Reeves, and Bullock described breaking out into giggles and admitting it was sometimes "Hard" to shoot scenes with Reeves during the filming of Speed because she thought her leading man was "Handsome!"
Bullock didn't have the chance to keep those revelations to herself; DeGeneres went straight to the source of Bullock's admiration and let Reeves know exactly what she had said when he was a guest on The Ellen Show. The studio audience erupted into cheerful gasps after Reeves watched the clip and responded to DeGeneres' inquiry over whether he was aware of Bullock's feelings. He responded, "She obviously didn't know I had a crush on her, either!"
Love Is A Key Ingredient For A Lasting Friendship
Even though the pair harbored romantic feelings for one another at one point in time, a romantic relationship was never in the stars for Bullock and Reeves. The duo remained true to the backbone of their relationship: professionalism. When DeGeneres probed Reeves for answers as to why they never began dating one another, he slyly remarked "We were working!" Reeves even blushed as he described Bullock to be a "Wonderful person and actress." In her own interview with DeGeneres, Bullock subtly credits their decades-long friendship to the fact she and Reeves only remained friends.
How To Maintain A Fun Friendship
Keeping up with her co-star Keanu and maintaining a friendship was not difficult for Bullock. Despite long periods of time without seeing one another, it was a mutual priority for both Bullock and Reeves to remain friends and keep in touch.
According to an interview with the duo while promoting their second film together, The Lake House, Bullock put pen to paper and "Wrote letters to see how [Reeves] was doing," also mentioning being sure to "Call and make sure [Reeves] was okay" when she caught wind of his motorcycle accidents in the news. Bullock also went on to add dinner dates were important to maintaining their friendship.
Those dinner dates and written letters have paid off!
Today, Reeves and Bullock still remain friends. In fact, when Ellen DeGeneres made our hearts soar after getting Reeves to reveal his past feelings for his pal, he got excited after DeGeneres teased him by alluding to Bullock being backstage! No matter what, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock's friendship remains strong and true both on and off-screen, withstanding through any sequel to Speed!