While Keanu Reeves is one of the most well-known actors on the planet, he’s a far cry from the brash, noisy celebs often more associated with Hollywood.

He’d hardly fit in with the Kardashians, let’s face it.

His calm, quiet demeanour is what many fans love about him – blockbuster films aside, of course, with a pretty impressive portfolio including the John Wick films, the Matrix franchise and action flick Speed.

That’s not to mention his band Dogstar, which is still going strong after reuniting in 2022, some 30 years after first forming.

Last year, Reeves – who is about to turn 60 – also branched out with his first novel, The Book of Elsewhere which he wrote in collaboration with author China Miéville.

It follows an immortal warrior who wants to be able to die, which naturally prompted people to be interested in Reeves’ outlook on death.

Keanu Reeves is about to turn 60 (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

In an interview with the BBC, the actor-turned-writer was asked whether having created a whole fantasy world, the book was his way of ‘trying to escape from reality’.

“Maybe ultimately the fantasy of building another world brings some kind of comfort in some way,” he replied.

“There’s something ultimately about the creative gesture that comes from pain,” he added.

“Creating stuff is great. Just creating, sharing, and hopefully people like the stories that we tell.”

Reeves – who has tragically lost several close people in his life, including his girlfriend, their stillborn daughter and his best friend, River Phoenix – shared a particularly sad admission, but in the process managed to make his sentiment surprisingly poetic.

“I’m 59, so I’m thinking about death all the time,” he said, adding that he felt it was a ‘good thing’.

The star opened up about death while discussing his novel The Book of Elsewhere (BBC)

He continued: “Hopefully it’s not crippling, but hopefully it’s sensitised [us] to an appreciation of the breath we have, and the relationships that we have the potential to have.”

Reeves also released a 2021 comic book series BRZRKR, which he said had been ‘influenced’ by some of the action films that he’s become famed for.

Many fans were surprised by the violence levels of the comic books, noting how it seemed such a stark contrast from Reeves’ personality.

But he warned: “I hope if they read BRZRKR, that they don’t go out and start ripping people’s arms off and chopping their heads off.

“Because there’s also a love story in it. But if you do read it, I hope maybe you can find love if you don’t have it.”