NEW HAPPINESS Keanu Reeves in love
He’s lived through one tragedy after another, but the likeable actor has finally opened his heart to a new love
Smiling and holding hands with artist Alexandra Grant at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in LA, a notoriously private Keanu Reeves showed a whole new side of himself to the world last week as he proudly showed off his new girlfriend. Pictures of Reeves, 55, looking smitten with the artist, 46, have no doubt broken the hearts of his admirers around the world with fans flooding social media celebrating the pair.
Holding hands on the red carpet was a significant, and telling, move for Reeves, who has never made a habit of showing such public displays of affection with any women throughout his career in Hollywood – opting instead to take his mother or sisters to work events.
But from the looks of their loved-up glances, it appears Grant could be the one for Reeves. The pair have been friends for a decade and have also collaborated together on several projects, the first being on Reeve’s 2011 book Ode to Happiness, for which Grant provided the illustrations.
Since then, it seems it’s been a slow but steady path to love for the low-key pair, who first sparked speculation they were romantically involved in May this year.
But it appears the actor and the artist have become less shy about stepping out in public, with Grant seen resting her head on Reeves’ shoulder as they left a dinner date in LA in mid-October.
Finding happiness in his personal life has been the icing on the top of an amazing year for Reeves, which saw the world revisit its forgotten love for the seasoned actor.
He’s enjoyed a major career resurgence thanks to his hilarious turn as an over-thetop version of himself in Always Be My Maybe with funny woman Ali Wong, as well as proving he’s still up there with the best of the action stars in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
But for those familiar with the tragedies he’s had to overcome in the past, seeing the nicest guy in Hollywood find love again has been nothing short of heartwarming.
He’s somehow managed to maintain his down-to-earth attitude and kind nature, but Reeves has experienced plenty of darkness in his life – the most tragic being the death of his girlfriend and baby daughter.
In late 1999, Reeves’ then girlfriend Jennifer Syme gave birth to their daughter, Ava, who was stillborn at eight months. The grief saw their relationship crumble within weeks, and just over a year later, Reeves was dealt another blow when Syme died in a car crash.
Understandably, his heartbreak led him to shut himself off emotionally and even avoid forming romantic relationships altogether.
“Grief changes shape, but it never ends,” Reeves said in 2006. “People have misconception that you can deal with it and say, ‘It’s gone, and I’m better’. They’re wrong. When the people you love are gone, you’re alone.”
But 13 years on from those melancholy words, it seems Reeves has found a way to live with his past grief while also looking to the future with Grant.
“Keanu wants to openly share his life with her,” one insider tells WHO. “He is extremely happy and grateful to have Alex in his life.” ■By Nikita Lee
“Grief changes shape, but it never ends” — Keanu Reeves