The Real Reason Sandra Bullock And Keanu Reeves Never Dated
There are certain celebrities whose chemistry on camera leaves fans rooting for them to start a relationship IRL. It worked for Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in The Notebook (at least, temporarily), and the same goes for Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum's Step Up love story (which also, sadly, has since come to an end.) But Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves never dated, despite the sparks flying between them in the classic '90s movie Speed.
The lack of a romantic relationship wasn't due to a lack of interest, though. This just seems to be a case of bad timing and peak professionalism. Let's dive into these star-crossed not-lovers' history together to better understand why things didn't quite pan out for Bullock and Reeves romantically.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves had mutual crushes
In December 2018, Sandra Bullock appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss the 25-year anniversary of Speed. Not only did she acknowledge the 1994 movie launched her career, but Bullock spilled even more juicy details!
"I think about how sweet Keanu Reeves was and how handsome he was. It was hard for me to really be serious." Apparently she'd get flustered just by him looking at her. When host Ellen DeGeneres asked if they'd ever gotten together off-screen, Bullock clarified, "Never dated him. There was just something about me that I guess he just didn't like." The actress laughed as she said that, but she also seemed thoroughly convinced.
Months later, in May 2019, Reeves sat down with DeGeneres and set the record straight. He said he had no idea Bullock had a crush on him and that "she obviously didn't know I had a crush on her either." Reeves agreed with DeGeneres that it was "nice to go to work" because their chemistry was so genuine.
The Speed stars' professionalism blocked cupid's arrow
When Ellen DeGeneres brought up how wild it was that the pair never dated, Keanu Reeves slightly deflected by clarifying, "We were working." On the one hand, you've got to applaud Reeves and Sandra Bullock for remaining consummate professionals on the Speed set, but with your other hand, you're probably doing a massive face-palm. To know that Bullock and Reeves were both interested but assumed the other wasn't is the type of situation that makes for the perfect plot of a rom-com.
Speaking of working together, Bullock said she wouldn't rule out a Speed sequel with Reeves. She joked to Entertainment Tonight in June 2019, "Maybe [when we're] 67, 69 years old. We'll be old and in the bus where they have that lift for the older people." She also hypothesized, "We'll be an old married couple. We'll have the walker and it will be about how we can get to the old people home before curfew."
Even if it was just a joke, you know fans would tune in for that.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves built a lasting friendship
Just because they never took their relationship beyond the friend zone, that doesn't mean they don't share a strong connection. Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves have appeared in not one, but two movies over the years. In addition to Speed, they starred in 2006's The Lake House. When discussing the latter with Entertainment Weekly, Reeves said, "I can't explain in words why Sandra and I have chemistry on screen or why we work well together. We just do, and I'm glad because I like her tremendously as a person. I always enjoy watching her work. She is funny as all heck, smart as [a] whip."
The feeling was obviously mutual, since Bullock said, "I am glad to work with him again. I don't know what it is, but I love being around Keanu. I really do. He is such a good person." She added that they'd kept in touch over the years, whether writing letters, calling to check in, or having dinner dates with mutual friends. Aww, how sweet!
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock found love elsewhere
Keanu Reeves' single streak came to an end when he started dating artist Alexandra Grant. They took their relationship public at a Los Angeles film gala in November 2019. An insider told People, "Keanu wants to openly share his life with her. He is extremely happy and grateful to have Alex in his life."
Sandra Bullock has been with Bryan Randall since 2015. A source told Us Weekly in June 2019 that Bullock knows he's "the one." According to the insider, "Bryan is such a sweet soul, and things couldn't be more different from the toxic relationships she's been in before." Randall also helps co-parent the Miss Congeniality star's two adopted children, Louis and Laila.
While Reeves and Bullock are a Hollywood example of "what could have been," they just never acted on their feelings. Instead, they channeled all that chemistry into their projects together, formed a lasting friendship, and found love elsewhere. Ultimately, it's still a win-win situation.