Keanu Reeves’ Love Story With Artist Alexandra Grant Is Unlike Other Hollywood Relationships

Mar 22, 2023

Actor Keanu Reeves, 58, is known to be one of Hollywood's nicest guys. On top of being a movie star, in recent years, he's also developed a reputation as "the internet's boyfriend" due to how much netizens love him. There are many reasons that fans love Reeves — from the fact that he's a bonafide action star whose filmography includes "The Matrix" and "John Wick" franchises, among other notable movies, to becoming the star of many popular memes. Reeves is simply one of Hollywood's most beloved actors and an icon of the internet.

But there are plenty of other examples out there that show just why Reeves is considered such a stand-up guy. There's the time that he gave up his seat on the subway for a stranger, as well as the various moments he's shared with homeless people on the streets, listening to their stories. Or there are the many donations he's given to charities or shared his wealth with the film crews that helped make his movies.

He once again proved exactly why he's earned this reputation and why everybody loves him so much when he surprised his stunt team from the latest "John Wick" movie with a brand new Rolex watch each.

But while Reeves is known for being one of Hollywood’s most beloved, friendly and down-to-earth actors, he also has a dark past that is full of heartbreak. For years, it appeared the actor was single and open to love.

Then, finally, after going public with his relationship with American visual artist Alexandra Grant, 49, in November 2019, the world became immediately interested in the woman who stole Reeves's heart. Since then, they've been more open about their relationship and Grant even gave an in-depth interview with Vogue magazine. 

Born to a mother of British descent and a father of British, Chinese, Portuguese and Native Hawaiian descent, Reeves has his mixed heritage to thank for his good genes. The actor is known for looking pretty much as hunky as he did when he first graced the big screen in the '80s, and many people have pointed that out.

But on top of his never-changing good looks, another aspect of Reeves's appearance that has remained the same ever since he landed in Hollywood is his clothing. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on designer duds, Reeves has become known for keeping a rather utilitarian uniform that usually consists of blue jeans, a simple jacket and large beat-up boots. It might seem like an insignificant detail but Reeves's outfit choices could be seen as a physical manifestation of how he sees himself — just like every other normal person. He doesn't need flashy clothes, cars or even luxury mansions, because he knows material possessions aren't the key to a happy life.

Perhaps that reveals why he has become so well known for his generosity to others. A generous gift-giver, Reeves has a history of gifting the people he works on films with. After filming wrapped on "John Wick: Chapter 4" in Paris in October 2021, the actor gifted the four members of his stunt team — Bruce Concepcion, Jeremy Marinas, Dave Camarillo and Li Qiang — a Rolex 2020 Submariner watch each, with a personalized message engraved on the back. He also got one for himself that matched the others, making the item more than just a gift but a shared relic from their time spent together on the film set. 

But that wasn't the first time Reeves treated his film crew members with special gifts. After one of "The Matrix" movies was finished filming, he treated his 12-person strong stunt team to a Harley-Davidson bike each, according to an interview with "John Wick" director Chad Stahelski. Furthermore, when one of the franchise's sequels wrapped, every member of the film crew, which totaled around 800 people, walked away with a bottle of champagne courtesy of the actor. 

Reeves knows that money isn't everything in life, which is why he's not afraid of giving it away. According to a Wall Street Journal article, as reported by ABC News, Reeves gave away a large number of his profits from "The Matrix" movies — rumored to be $75 million — to the special effects and costume design team. A movie executive said:

"He felt that they were the ones who made the movie and that they should participate."

But it's not just people he knows that are treated kindly by him. The actor has been photographed on numerous occasions donating to homeless people on the street. In one memorable incident in 1997, Reeves hung out with a homeless man, as he sat down next to him and shared drinks and snacks and lied on his back while the guy told him stories. It might seem like a PR stunt but some paparazzi came across him by accident. 

What's more, he's well known for donating lots to charitable causes, especially those that support children with cancer. He revealed in a Ladies Home Journal interview from 2009 that he even has a private foundation that "helps aid a couple of children's hospitals and cancer research." He added: "I don't like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does." 

It seems that Reeves's generosity to cancer charities could perhaps be motivated by his personal connection to the cause since his younger sister Kim Reeves was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991. After she battled cancer for nearly a decade, she went into remission in 1999. Sadly, though, the actor is no stranger to darkness. Although he is well known for his kind and positive demeanor, Reeves has endured more than his fair share of tragedy in his life.

Reeves first encountered it early on when his father left the family before he had even turned 6 years old. And even though his father did remain in his life for the first couple of years, Reeves completely lost contact with him when he turned 13. “On our last day we sat on the veranda and stared at the dark sky,” Reeves said in a 2002 interview, as he remembered back to that fateful day. He added:

“He hardly said anything that evening. The next day he brought us to the airport. Then we didn’t hear anything from him for 10 years. No calls, no letters, nothing.”

Fast forward to a decade later when a 23-year-old Reeves acted in "My Own Private Idaho" with his best friend River Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix’s older brother. Tragedy struck again when River passed away in 1993 at the age of 23 and Reeves lost his best friend, as reported by Snopes. To lose a close friend is sad and traumatic no matter how old you are, but it often hits especially hard when you're young and don't expect death at all. 

In another tragic incident, Reeves was stricken with the incredible hardship of losing a child in 2000, followed soon after by his girlfriend. He and his then-partner Jennifer Syme had a baby who was stillborn at eight months, according to Snopes. Shortly thereafter, torn apart by their traumatic experience, Symes left Reeves. The couple remained friends, however. But tragedy struck again as Symes passed away in a car accident 18 months later.

But out of all this tragedy, Reeves has nonetheless emerged as one of Hollywood’s most talented, generous and likable actors. In fact, it's likely that the hardship he's experienced in his life is what has motivated him to become such a beacon of light to others. And finally, it seems he’s found some happiness with Grant. As one anonymous source told Life & Style:

“(Reeves) was in such a dark place for so long, but Alexandra’s positive outlook and support have played a huge part in helping him turn his life around. Some say she’s not only stolen his heart but she’s also saved him.”

Reeves and Grant's relationship first became public in November 2019, when they were photographed holding hands at a Los Angeles event, as reported by People. The couple had already been together for a few years but hadn't gone public until then. Interest in Grant, who is an artist and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, grew quickly. According to The New York Times, the two met at a dinner party in 2009, and after that, they became business partners and friends.

They even collaborated on a 2011 book, “Ode to Happiness.” This led them to build a publishing house together, X Artists’ Books, which is described on their website as “a small publisher of thoughtful, high-quality, artist-centered books that fit within and between genres.” 

In March 2020, Grant gave an interview with Vogue magazine. In it, she explained that many friends and acquaintances contacted her with questions about her relationship when she and Reeves first went public. She explained:

"I think every single person I knew called me in the first week of November, and that's fascinating. But the question I've been asking in all of this is: 'What is the opportunity for good?'" 

In the interview, Grant opened up about how the couple started working professionally together for the first time around 2011 when they published "Ode to Happiness," which includes Reeves’ poetry and Grants’ drawings. “The book was made as a surprise, by me, for Keanu, as a private gift,” Grant told Vogue. It was not originally meant to be published and be accessible to the public eye at all. However, as Grant explained, their friends encouraged the couple to go forward with the idea:

“All our friends sitting in the room got the giggles when I gave it to him — they said, ‘Please publish it!’ So that’s how we got into publishing.”

She was further asked about the possibility of marriage and gave a clever answer that avoided the question:

"Over a glass of wine... I would love to tell you. Love at every level is deeply important to my identity. How's that for dodging the question? I do not believe that isolation is the way. There is a period of isolation that I do as a painter, but I deeply value the experience of being in relationships."  

Grant grew up in various places around the world including Spain, France and Mexico. Her upbringing must have been the inspiration for her attraction to the written word, and as an artist, she incorporates text into her work.  

She told LA Weekly in a profile:

"I grew up in part in Mexico City, Washington, DC, and Paris, moving between languages and cultures. Los Angeles felt like home from the moment I first arrived in 1995, especially the diversity of people, idioms, foods, and plants (like jacaranda and bougainvillea). There’s an incredible work ethic here — many people are creative and entrepreneurial. Having friends who are working hard practicing their crafts — whether it’s set design, publishing, or acting — is very inspiring."

Her paintings and sculptures have been displayed in prestigious spaces such as MOCA and LACMA in Los Angeles, and Galerie Gradiva in Paris. Grant is also the initiator behind the grantLOVE project, a project that has fundraised for various non-profits and artists in LA. Apart from their love for art, Reeves and Grant must bond over their philanthropy and giving initiatives.

“Keanu wants to openly share his life with her,” a source told People. “He is extremely happy and grateful to have Alex in his life.”

While it seems like they’re a good match, not everyone seems to think that Reeves and Grant's relationship makes total sense, especially since Grant isn’t exactly a typical Hollywood girlfriend, as she herself admitted in her interview with Vogue. “I’m a 6ft 1in woman with white hair,” she told the magazine. “You know, the idea of fitting in… If I wanted to look like Kim Kardashian, I would have to have surgery removing about a foot off my legs.” But regardless of what people think of Reeves’s romance with Grant, it’s nice to see the actor in a happy relationship. After everything he’s been through, he deserves it. 

What do you think of Keanu Reeves's life story? Isn't it great that he's found someone just as kind to spend his life with? Let us know your thoughts and pass this informative article on to fellow Keanu Reeves fans.