Keanu As Demon Hunter

'The Matrix' Star Talks About New Film, 'Constantine'

(CBS)  These days, Keanu Reeves is best known for his unforgettable role in "The Matrix" trilogy.

But the actor has been making movies for more than two decades, including such diverse films as "Dangerous Liaisons," "Speed," and "Something's Gotta Give."

In his latest movie, the supernatural thriller "Constantine," Reeves plays a reluctant demon hunter.

And just like in "The Matrix," Reeves is once again between the forces of good and evil.

"I think those are good stories, and the roles are classic, hero journeys," Reeves explains to The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. But the characters have nothing in common.

"Constantine is a much more external character whereas Neo was much more internal. Neo was searching for -- some of the lines as: What is the matrix? What truth?" Reeves says, "Constantine, on the other hand, knows. He doesn't know why he has this gift. He doesn't know why. He's a flawed reluctant hero."

As Constantine, he says he tries to "buy his way into heaven and it's not working."

Explaining his part, Reeves says, "He's an exorcist who is condemned to hell for the life he took, which was his own. He committed suicide in despair because he was born with what he calls a curse that he can see the world behind the world. He can see this kind of half angel, half demons influencing people in a negotiation that is happening between God and the devil – they have a standing bet for the souls of mankind. So Constantine, when we find him, he's dying from a terminal illness and he is condemned to hell because of the rules of the film, because if you take your own life is a mortal sin."

For the role he actually met an exorcist. "Very affable man," Reeves notes. "He said: You grab them; you have to have to have contact; you have to have this strong directional will."

And he also got to speak in Latin, a language he passed in high school. "I had to brush up on it," he says.

Recently, the actor received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"It was a time in this moment to share it with my friends and family," he says. "I brought my mom."

Since he was in second grade Reeves knew he wanted to be an actor, and says his mom has been very supportive ever since.

"When I was 15, I asked, 'Mom is it OK if I'm an actor' and she said, "Whatever you want to do son.' So thanks Mom," Reeves says.

Some Facts About Keanu Reeves

Keanu Charles Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 2, 1964.

Reeves moved from New York City to Toronto with his family when he was 6.

Reeves attended the High School for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, failed acting class, and left after one year.

In 1979, Reeves made his television acting debut in a guest appearance on the CBC production, "Hanging In."

In 1984, Reeves made his professional stage debut in the Toronto production of "Wolfboy," and played a street tough in the short film, "The Prodigal."

In 1985, Reeves made his debut in a Shakespearean play, "Romeo and Juliet," in Toronto. He made his U.S. television debut in "Letting Go."

In 1986, Reeves made his film acting debut in "Youngblood," was cast alongside Rob Lowe as a hockey player, and appeared as Jack Be Nimble in the ABC television remake of "Babes in Toyland," which starred Drew Barrymore.

In 1987, Reeves had his first starring role in the movie "River's Edge."

In 1988, Reeves played Chevalier Danceny, a music teacher infatuated with Uma Thurman's Cecile de Volange, in "Dangerous Liaisons."

In 1989, the actor was offered a memorable turn as a teenaged hippie in Ron Howard's "Parenthood," co-starred with Andre Gregory in "The Tempest," and made his breakthrough in movies as Ted, half of the dim-witted, time-traveling pair in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."

In 1991, Reeves starred as a politician's son who becomes a street hustler in Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho," and reprised the time-traveling Ted in the inferior sequel, "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey."

In 1992, Reeves was featured as Jonathan Harker in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

In 1994, Reeves re-teamed with Gus Van Sant for a supporting role in "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," portrayed Siddhartha in Bernardo Bertolucci's "Little Buddha," and shot to superstardom as an explosives expert attempting to defuse a bomb-rigged bus in the thriller "Speed."

In 1995, Reeves appeared as the title character in a Winnipeg production of "Hamlet," and played a WWII veteran who pretends to be married in "A Walk in the Clouds."

In 1997, Reeves played a lawyer tempted by success and Satan in "The Devil's Advocate."

In 1999, Reeves starred as Neo, a computer expert who joins forces with a rebel underground to pursue "The Matrix."

In 2000, the actor was featured as the quarterback of a football team during a 1987 players' strike in the sports comedy "The Replacements," and played a wife-beating accused murderer in "The Gift."

In 2001, he was cast as advertising executive opposite Charlize Theron in the remake of "Sweet November," and played a ticket scalper with big gambling debts who takes a job coaching a little league team in Chicago's Cabrini Green in the feature "Hardball"

In 2003, following the phenomenal box-office success of the stylish 1999 sci-fi thriller, "The Matrix," Reeves was back in demand with the highly-anticipated sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," directed by the Wachowski Brothers.

Also in 2003, he took a less central role in the much lighter romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give," playing Jack Nicholson's charming cardiologist and eventual romantic rival when he becomes besotted with Nicholson's inadvertent love interest, Diane Keaton.

In the fall of 2005, he will be seen in the live action, highly stylized, animated adaptation of "A Scanner Darkly," directed by Richard Linklater, starring opposite Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder. He's also the title character in the independent feature "Thumbsucker." Directed by newcomer Mike Mills, "Thumbsucker" also stars Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn and Benjamin Bratt.