Actor Keanu Reeves Is Etremely Shy

Nl54

Well-known member
Is Keanu Reeves really a shy guy?
Keanu Reeves will never describe himself as a "social butterfly." Why? Because this 27-year-old, confesses that sometimes he just doesn't know what to say to folks!

When you see an actor up on the silver screen, doing all sorts of zany, serious or incredible acting stuff, it's hard not to image that person feeling confident and at ease with himself. After all, if an actor is able to reveal himself so readily on-camera, wouldn't it make sense that he would be outgoing off-camera as well?

Well, despite your possible expectations, this assumption does not quite apply in describing handsome Keanu Reeves! In real life, Keanu is just as lovable and funny as he was playing "Ted" in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), but he is infinitely more shy around people than any character he has taken on thus far in his career.

Embarrassed and panicky

Off-camera, if this brown-eyed honey is put in a social situation in which he is in the spotlight, he often becomes quite embarrassed and panicky.

For instance, when this lad of Hawaiian, Chinese, and English descent is being interviewed, he often freezes up.

"I don't know what to say! I can tell you that I had fun doing this or that but... I don't know, I just can't organize my thoughts," sighs Mr. Reeves. "I mean, who really cares what I think?"

One of the main reasons this September 2, 1994 birthday guy feels so uncomfortable in social situations is that he has done a lot of reading about his fellow actors and what they have to say, and he's a bit intimidated by their knowledge and insight.

"I've read stuff that James Dean, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman have said, and there's wisdom in their words, I don't feel like I have that yet", explains Keanu humbly.

Being this shy isn't easy on Keanu, especially since he's a star and is often called upon to express his options publicly. When put on the spot, Keanu is known to be so mortified with what comes out of his mouth that he will leave the room until he can sort out his thoughts!

"I'm just a basket case!"

"My friends have told me I just need to learn to relax, but I think I'm just a basket case!" laughs this hockey fan.

So instead of appearing on a lot of TV interview shows and magazine covers, this brown-haired sweetheart goes about his merry way, visiting with his small group of friends, hanging out in his Hollywood neighborhood and racing his Norton 850 Commando motorcycle through the streets of Los Angeles. And all the while feeling quite at ease!

"I guess basically I've decided that I'm a pretty goofy dude," concludes Keanu philosophically.

If Keanu's shyness seems endearing to you, let him know! Write him a letter and mail it in care of The Big Bopper, P.O. Box 7897, Burbank, CA 91510!





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-lonestar-

Well-known member
I feel inclined to write him a letter, is this adress still valid, just want to make sure. He is one of my fave actors. I find it awesome and surprising that he suffers from shyness. I admire him for being genuinely a good guy even in fame.
 

KiaKaha

Banned
I have read that lots of celebrities are shy....at least when they are not in front of the camera. I am a little suspicious..but its still inspiring to read about.

Shy Celebrities
 

Apotheosis

Well-known member
I've talked about this kind of thing here before.

I used to (I still do, but I used to more) do a lot of acting on stage, even in a few musicals, and won some awards for performances.

I'm less nervous performing because, no matter what, I always know what to say and how to act. It's all planned, organized in advance. Most of all, when I'm on stage I know people aren't looking at me, they're looking at my character.

Real life is much more chaotic, unpredictable and full of judgement. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if most actors considered themselves shy.
 

HermitFox

Member
Keanu Reeves is quite huggly, sure he gets plenty. meep. but...it's sort of good to hear about successful people who are sure and struggle for words. definitely...
 

Deus_Ex_Lemur

Well-known member
Many of my fav actors/filmmakers are shy, reserved and introverted. Robert De Niro is prime example - you see what he can do on camera on screen but off, he barely talks, soft spoken, shy. Harrison Ford similar, Johnny Depp a little more talkative but more reserved too. All introverts. Gives me hope sure esp for me because film is what I'm trying to do. But nice to see those more famous successful examples.
 

Deus_Ex_Lemur

Well-known member
Maybe actors are acting not being shy? specially when they "become" someone else for a movie.

Having acted myself, although very difficult to get into that comfort zone with SA, and low-esteem, it's definitely true. Many are more comfortable being other ppl than themselves. Why Robert De Niro does what he does and usually plays the least shy characters on screen but is quiet as a turtle in person and feels awkward talking to ppl and interviews.
 

stevelee24

Well-known member
its horrible what happened to him a few years back when his pregnant wife died in a car accident im surprised he can still function after than.
 

OceanMist

Well-known member
A lot of people have at least some shyness. A survey was taken before, and 90% of college students said they defined themselves as shy.

The difference between them and people like me is my shyness is on a more catastrophic scale. For instance, Reeves has friends.....I don't.
 

-lonestar-

Well-known member
Seems to me the better class of people are the shyer ones, we are just nicer, better looking, awesome, have great taste. We just don't like to show off lol.

Acting is great, you always have something to say, and people react to what you say, its all scripted but the fun is in making it seem real. Shy people I feel must benefit alot from being someone they aren't so long as they can have the courage and enounciate words right. I always wanted to try it as a hobby, maybe I should. I'd say shy people understand other points of view they just don't know how to put it into practise but when it comes to acting it out, now thats a new world, I remember seeing Heath Ledger in interviews and he seemed pretty shy too, so theres more proof shy people are the coolest ;)
 
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He may be shy but he's a gentleman.
I heard he gave all his Matrix profits to the behind the scenes crew of the movie of the same name.
His reason being,he thought they were many many times more responsible for the success of the film than he was.
Shy guy=what a guy.
 

Etbow23

Well-known member
Seems to me the better class of people are the shyer ones, we are just nicer, better looking, awesome, have great taste. We just don't like to show off lol.

Acting is great, you always have something to say, and people react to what you say, its all scripted but the fun is in making it seem real. Shy people I feel must benefit alot from being someone they aren't so long as they can have the courage and enounciate words right. I always wanted to try it as a hobby, maybe I should. I'd say shy people understand other points of view they just don't know how to put it into practise but when it comes to acting it out, now thats a new world, I remember seeing Heath Ledger in interviews and he seemed pretty shy too, so theres more proof shy people are the coolest ;)

omg you're so right. shy people always have better taste/nicer/etc
 

MyTunnel

Banned
Not too surprising. I mean part of being confident is acting confident. Actors can pretend to be a character and their real personality is pushed aside. I also heard the singer of Queen was quite shy despite appearing not so on stage.
 
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