Alexandra Grant shared rare glimpses of her life with Keanu Reeves, but her answer isn't based on red carpet appearances or romance rumors.
The artist spoke about Reeves while promoting LOVEwine, her new wine project created as part of the grantLOVE initiative. In a new interview with PEOPLE, Grant said their collaboration works because they both understand the importance of creativity, feedback, and the need to give each other space for self-expression.
Grant, 53, has been in a romantic relationship with Reeves, 61, since 2019, but their creative connection began long before they went public with their relationship.
Grant said respect comes first.
Grant said Reeves is very attentive to feedback on her work, and she tries to be equally attentive to him.
«"He's always so grateful, so I think he's always careful with his feedback, and I would say the same," Grant told PEOPLE. "You always have to be respectful and let the other person bake their own cake.".
She said they can discuss a creative problem when needed, but they also understand when the other person needs quiet time or to delve into another process.
She said she "lived with John Wick" and "lived with Neo.".
Grant's funniest answer also most clearly captured the essence of their relationship in the interview. She said that part of their shared life is the understanding that projects have their own rules, deadlines, and requirements.
«"I lived with John Wick, I lived with Neo," Grant told PEOPLE, referring to Reeves' two most famous roles.
Grant said she respects Reeves's approach to immersing himself in a role. She compared this focus to the way Reeves works when he's completely immersed in painting, noting that painting isn't acting, but can still be experienced as a form of performance.
Their relationship began with a book.
Reeves and Grant's public relationship began years after their first collaboration. According to E! News, they first collaborated on a book. «Ode to Happiness , written by Reeves in 2011 and illustrated by Grant, before publicly announcing their relationship in 2019.
This story gives Grant's new comments a different feel than the standard reports about celebrity couples. She's not simply talking about a romance with a famous actor. She's describing a relationship that was born out of their shared creative work.
The couple later co-founded X Artists' Books, a Los Angeles-based publishing house specializing in artist-focused books. The company's official website states that it was founded in 2017.
The interview took place during the presentation of LOVEwine, which belongs to Grant.
Grant's comments came during the launch of LOVEwine in Los Angeles, a collaboration between J Vineyards & Winery and grantLOVE.
J Vineyards describes the project as a limited-edition California Brut Cuvée sparkling wine created as part of Grant's art and design initiative. The winery states that the collaboration is rooted in a love of women, creativity, wine, and the art world.
PEOPLE reported that Grant's interest in wine began during a childhood summer vacation in Paris with her mother, an American diplomat. Now, this project offers Grant another opportunity to combine art, process, memories, and collaboration.
Grant focused on creative partnerships.
Grant's interview didn't turn her life with Reeves into a dramatic revelation about their relationship. Her comments focused on how they work, listen to each other, and give each other space.
She said the "key" is mutual respect and play, and described herself and Reeves as people who believe in the projects.
Herein lies the most useful detail of the interview: Grant doesn't present this relationship as a mystery to be solved. She describes two creative people who know when to speak, when to listen, and when to empower the other person.