Hollywood star Ana de Armas thought she knew what intense physical preparation meant after her previous action roles. However, nothing could have prepared her for the reality of becoming a John Wick assassin.
The Cuban-Spanish actress has been pushed to her absolute limits while filming “Ballerina.” The spin-off from the John Wick franchise recently came out in June 2025. Ana de Armas candidly revealed the toll her transformation has taken on her body.
“We’ve been in Prague filming for four months… And I’m in pain. You know, my body, my back, everything hurts. I’m complaining, I’m sore, I’m bruised,” she shared during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The 34-year-old actress plays Rooney, a ballerina-assassin who brings deadly grace to the Continental Hotel’s underground world. While de Armas had previously tackled action sequences in James Bond’s “No Time to Die,” she quickly discovered that her brief stint in the 007 universe was merely a warm-up for what awaited her in the John Wick realm.
“Bond was fifteen minutes. This is a whole movie, another level,” de Armas explained.
The training regimen for “Ballerina” required de Armas to master an entirely new skill set that would make her character believable as a lethal operative. Her preparation included extensive jiu-jitsu training, weapons handling, and combat choreography that demanded both physical and mental precision.
Unlike typical Hollywood action preparation, which often relies heavily on stunt doubles and abbreviated training periods, the John Wick universe demands authenticity from its performers.
Working alongside Keanu Reeves, who reprises his iconic role as John Wick, has been both inspiring and humbling for de Armas. The veteran action star, known for his dedication to realistic combat training, has set an impossibly high standard for physical commitment to the role.
“But the other day, Keanu and I were rehearsing our very difficult stunt scene, and this man is just rolling and throwing me and doing crazy stunts. And I’m like – I can’t complain anymore because he is doing it! He truly is the best,” de Armas said, expressing her admiration for her co-star’s unwavering dedication.
The actress underwent months of strength training before progressing to specialized combat techniques. Her daily routine included hand-to-hand combat sessions designed to make strikes, blocks, and takedowns feel natural and automatic.
Beyond traditional martial arts, de Armas had to master the John Wick universe’s creative approach to weaponry. The franchise is famous for turning everyday objects into deadly instruments, and her character continues this tradition in spectacular fashion. One sequence that particularly excited the actress involved using ice skates as weapons.
“Ballerina” is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, positioning de Armas’s character within the established timeline of the franchise. The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Gabriel Byrne.
With the movie now out, de Armas carries her bruises as badges of honor. Each painful training session brought her closer to embodying the lethal grace that defines the John Wick universe.
