Given the trajectory of Keanu Reeves’ career, one might think he is just an action hero, but they would be wrong on multiple levels, in fact, he isn’t just an action hero, but also a celebrated romance king. The actor time and again has already been deemed the nation’s boyfriend, and rightfully so. Films like, Feeling Minnesota, Sweet November, Something’s Gotta Give, and Lake House only further proves that fact. Therefore, it is given he had to film many steamy kissing scenes throughout his life, but there’s one that stands out but for a peculiar reason.

Apparently, the stars align for him and his The Matrix co-star Monica Belluci, every eight years for them to film a kissing scene. How absurd or peculiar it may sound, it is weirdly true. The two have locked lips multiple times on-screen, from The Matrix to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The actress explained this theory further in a chat with The Morning Call.

Keanu Reeves

Monica Belluci and Keanu Reeves Kiss Every Eight Years

Besides, stopping flying bullets Keanu Reeves has also engaged in multiple kissing scenes for the movie trilogy, The Matrix. Not only that, the action hero who is also deemed a great kisser by his co-stars never failed to leave a lasting impression on his audience with every film he did. In fact, he might just be the only actor with zero haters. Thus, when Monica Bellicu, who played Persephone, in the movie series, got the chance to kiss the actor again, she jumped on the opportunity and ended up kissing him over 50 times. But realized a fun fact years later. In The Morning Call interview, the actress stated,

“It took us two days to shoot a single kissing scene,–We did the scene with very many clothes, then less clothes, then less clothes, and we had to do the scene maybe 50 times.”

Monica Belluci and Keanu Reeves in the 2003 Matrix movie

The two locked lips over 50 times, to get the shot the director wanted. But their comradery helped them both through the process. She then continued saying,
“Keanu is a good kisser, so it wasn’t painful. Nine years ago, when I did Bram Stoker’s Dracula and I was just a model, I had to kiss Keanu in that. Every eight years, I kiss Keanu Reeves.”
Consequently, turns out the actors also locked their lips on the 1992 movie, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. And the odd fact of them coincidentally kissing every eight years popped up. The two after 2003, went on to star in the 2009 movie The Private Lives of Pippa Lee but did not, unfortunately, share a kiss on screen.

Monica Belluci Was a Huge Fan of The Matrix Before She Starred in It

After The Apartment, cemented her name in the industry came the opportunity that changed her life. And turns out, she was just a fan just like the rest, before getting the opportunity to star in the 2003 sequel, which was a sure-shot hit. Adding to that, the actress was so moved upon watching the first part, that she wanted to make something similar in the future. There is no doubt that the sci-fi trilogy changed the movie-viewing experience forever. Therefore once she was approached to star as Persephone, she chose the red pill without any hesitation. She then elaborated,
“I went to see Matrix, the first one, and I came out from the theater and I said, ‘Oh my God, I want to make a movie like that.’ And then, I was in America presenting Malèna, and the Wachowskis called me. They wanted to meet me. And they offered me Persephone. I was so happy. Then I was in Sydney, shooting the movie. That’s the story. That’s the way it is”

The Matrix Reloaded Star, Monica Bellucci, and Keanu Reeves

Working alongside her old friend Reeves and starting in the franchise as a big fan was a dream come true in itself. But it also served as a learning moment for the actress who was eager to learn about what goes on behind the scenes for such a massive movie. All in all, from being a fan of the movie to starring in it overnight, the franchise changed her life.

The Matrix Reloaded is available on HBO Max for streaming.

Source: The Morning Call