Rosie O’Donnell has shockingly revealed that the beloved Keanu Reeves was ‘one of [her] worst’ talk show guests.
The 63-year-old former host of The Rosie O’Donnell Show – who recently reignited a war of words with ex The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck – had the A-lister on her show in 1997.
O’Donnell appeared on Sam Pang Tonight on Monday evening as she detailed why she believes that Reeves is ‘not good’ in on-air interviews despite having one of the higher assumed approval ratings in Hollywood.
She said in the recent interview: ‘I love the guy. He’s so sweet, he looks gorgeous, I love all his movies, but he would not answer a question.’
O’Donnell went on to recall the interview from nearly 30 years ago as he promoted 1997’s The Devil’s Advocate which he starred in alongside Al Pacino.
She said: ‘I’d say, “So, Keanu, how’s it going? How are you feeling?” [He’d respond] “Good.” We were live. We couldn’t re-tape.
![Rosie O'Donnell has shockingly revealed that the beloved Keanu Reeves was 'one of [her] worst' talk show guests](https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/103055823-15199359-image-a-22_1760641090186.jpg)
Rosie O’Donnell has shockingly revealed that the beloved Keanu Reeves was ‘one of [her] worst’ talk show guests
The 63-year-old former host of The Rosie O’Donnell Show – who recently reignited a war of words with ex The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck – had the A-lister on her show in 1997
‘I finally said after three minutes, “You know, Keanu, it is a talk show. You have to talk.”‘
O’Donnell made sure to praise the action man, 61, as she said he was ‘a lovely man and a good-hearted guy’ before noting that Reeves did come back on her daytime talk show in 2001.
She said: ‘So he got the hang of it.’
The original interview could be seen on YouTube and it does show the host telling the actor that he was not opening up enough.
Reeves had laughed at one of her questions to which she responded: ‘Sorry, but you know it’s a talk show. We’ve got to ask questions.’
Later on in the interview she asked him: ‘You don’t do a lot of these shows do you? Do you hate them?’
Reeves responded: ‘I’m not comfortable with them, but they’re fun. It’s alright.’
O’Donnell then playfully offered him a snack or toy in the late 90s interview.
O’Donnell appeared on Sam Pang Tonight on Monday evening as she detailed why she believes that Reeves is ‘not good’ in on-air interviews despite having one of the higher assumed approval ratings in Hollywood
She said in the recent interview: ‘I love the guy. He’s so sweet, he looks gorgeous, I love all his movies, but he would not answer a question.’
![O'Donnell went on to recall the interview from nearly 30 years ago as he promoted 1997's The Devil's Advocate which he starred in alongside Al Pacino . She said: 'I’d say, "So, Keanu, how’s it going? How are you feeling?" [He’d respond] "Good." We were live. We couldn’t re-tape'](https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/103055831-15199359-image-a-24_1760641156120.jpg)
O’Donnell went on to recall the interview from nearly 30 years ago as he promoted 1997’s The Devil’s Advocate which he starred in alongside Al Pacino . She said: ‘I’d say, “So, Keanu, how’s it going? How are you feeling?” [He’d respond] “Good.” We were live. We couldn’t re-tape’
The original interview could be seen on YouTube and it does show the host telling the actor that he was not opening up enough
Reeves had laughed at one of her questions to which she responded: ‘Sorry, but you know it’s a talk show. We’ve got to ask questions’
Later on in the interview she asked him: ‘You don’t do a lot of these shows do you? Do you hate them?’
Reeves responded: ‘I’m not comfortable with them, but they’re fun. It’s alright’
Keanu seen at a screening for his film Good Fortune in New York on Monday
Many in the comments section of the YouTube clip praised the comedian for helping The Matrix star open up.
One wrote: ‘Rosie really made him feel very much at ease in this interview….’
Another said: ‘Rosie was such a good TV talk show interviewer! I love how she made celebrity introverts like Keanu and Winona feel at ease during her interviews.’
The Rosie O’Donnell Show aired over six seasons from 1996 to 2002 with a total of 1,193 episodes.Â
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Rosie O’Donnell reveals very surprising A-lister who was her ‘worst’ talk show guest