Ana de Armas takes the lead in Ballerina, the first spin-off in the John Wick universe. She stars as a fierce assassin on a bloody mission of revenge, blending deadly force with feminine power.
Ana de Armas steps into the spotlight alongside Keanu Reeves in Ballerina, the highly anticipated spin-off of the John Wick saga, hitting theaters this Wednesday.
The 37-year-old actress plays Eve Maccaro, a ballerina-turned-deadly assassin raised and trained by the Ruska Roma, a shadowy organized crime syndicate. Eve is on a relentless quest to avenge her father’s murder.
Directed by Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard), the bloody tale unfolds between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and the rest of the action-packed saga. Keanu Reeves reprises his role as the elusive and feared Baba Yaga.
Familiar faces return, including Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and the late Lance Reddick (who passed away in 2023), alongside newcomers Gabriel Byrne and The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.
Following her roles in No Time to Die (2021) and Ghosted (2023)—where she played a CIA agent—Ana de Armas is once again embracing action cinema. It’s a far cry from her haunting portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
“I never thought my career would head in this direction,” she told AFP. “But every experience I’ve had so far helped me get comfortable with this genre, and I ended up loving it. I had a blast.”
Gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, katanas, axes—even flamethrowers: Eve Maccaro is as lethal as she is graceful. In a genre long dominated by men, Ana de Armas brings a refreshing and powerful female presence to the screen.
“Fight like a girl,” Eve’s mentor tells her in the film. “We loved the idea of flipping that phrase and turning it into a source of strength,” the actress said.
To prepare for the physically demanding role, Ana de Armas trained “like an athlete” for months, both before and during the shoot.
“It was intense and complicated... There was so much work, I was covered in bruises and everything hurt,” she revealed.
But that didn’t stop her. She’d “love” to return as Eve Maccaro. “I adore the character, and I think we ended the movie on a strong note—with all the doors open for a sequel.”
The John Wick franchise isn’t slowing down either. A fifth chapter is already in development, along with a feature film focused on another character from Chapter 4—the assassin Caine—and an animated prequel is also in the works.
By Marine DO-VALE / AFP
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