The Matrix famously propelled Keanu Reeves to global fame and broke ground as a genre-defining sci-fi epic.
Twenty-five years on, and the action movie remains to be one of the very best in the genre and is still much-loved by viewers today.
Released in 1999, it depicts a dystopian future which sees humanity unknowingly trapped inside The Matrix, a simulated reality created by machines to distract humans while using their bodies as an energy source.
Computer programmer Thomas Anderson, under the hacker alias Neo, discovers the truth and joins a rebellion against the machine to free themselves from The Matrix.
The film soared to huge acclaim and raked in a huge $37.4million in the first five days of its release, and the ‘red pill, blue pill’ scene has now gone down in pop culture history.
It has inspired three sequels – 2003’s The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Reloaded, as well as The Matrix Resurrections, which came out in 2021 after an almost 20-year gap.
As the original Matrix marks its 25th anniversary, here’s everything you need to know about where the iconic cast are now, from its Hollywood heavyweights to its lesser known stars.
The Matrix famously propelled Keanu Reeves to global fame and broke ground as a genre-defining sci-fi epic
Keanu Reeves – Neo
Arguably the most famous face from The Matrix is Keanu Reeves, who was propelled to global acclaim with his stint starring as the film’s protagonist Neo.
The Hollywood star, 59, reprised his role for all of the Matrix sequels and has become no stranger to an action franchise in his hugely successful career since.
He has also become the face of the John Wick franchise, taking on the role of the legendary hitman who reluctantly returns to the criminal underworld after retiring.
Keanu most recently returned to the iconic role for the fourth chapter of the action series last year, and is now set to product another sequel series.
The in-demand star, who turns 60 next month, recently signed on to executive produce a new series titled John Wick: Under The High Table.
He will reunite with his Matrix stunt double-turned-director Chad Stahelski on the project set directly after the end of John Wick: Chapter 4.
‘He is said to be very hands-on with the project, which is being shopped in what is shaping up to become a competitive situation,’ an insider told Deadline.
Fans worried about Wick’s fate at the ‘ambiguous’ end of John Wick: Chapter 4 can rest easier knowing there is also a fifth film in the works as well as the new series.
Keanu has become a staple in the action genre, with the first four of his John Wick films, spanning from 2014 until 2013, amassing a combined $1billion at the global box office, with each one bigger and than the last.
After rising to fame in 1999, John has become the face of the John Wick franchise, taking on the role of the legendary hitman who returns to the criminal underworld after retiring
Elsewhere, the actor has also ventured out away from the screen and has created his very own BRZRKR comic series, which follows an immortal warrior known as Berzerker.
He recently teamed up with British ‘weird fiction’ author China Miéville to expand his 12-issue limited comic book series into a novel, titled The Book of Elsewhere.
He recently told The Guardian: ‘I didn’t want to write the book. I wanted another creator to take that journey. So, ultimately, China has written the novel. I didn’t write any of the novel.’
The book which was released on July 23, tells the tale of an immortal warrior who spends millennia trying to understand his own immortality.
He is also currently dating Alexandra Grant, who he first went public with in 2019 but was initially linked to years earlier in 2011.
Carrie-Anne Moss – Trinity
Carrie-Anne Moss notably starred as computer programmer and hacker Trinity, who is Neo’s love interest and has already escaped from The Matrix.
The iconic role, which the actress, 56, reprised in all subsequent Matrix films, propelled the star into a steady stream of film and TV work.
She has become a staple on screens, racking up an impressive number of acting credits ever since The Matrix secured her position as a Hollywood star.
Carrie-Anne is most famous for her role in 2000’s Memento alongside Guy Pearce, as well as Jeri Hogarth in Marvel’s Iron Fist, the Defenders and Jessica Jones.
Most recently, she has joined another huge TV franchise, taking on the role of Master Indara in the Disney+ Star Wars offshoot The Acolyte.
Carrie-Anne Moss notably starred as computer programmer and hacker Trinity, who is Neo’s love interest and has already escaped from The Matrix
Most recently, she has joined another huge TV franchise, taking on the role of Master Indara in the Disney+ Star Wars offshoot The Acolyte
Despite being a well-known face in Hollywood, the Canadian actress enjoys a ‘quieter life’ with her husband Steven Roy and their three children.
In 2020, the family relocated to New Hampshire to be closer connected to nature after decades living in the City of Angels.
‘We were just really craving a quieter life, less traffic, more nature — and I have to say, I like change,’ she said.
‘My husband and I really wanted more connection to nature, really. I wanted to see the stars at night. I wanted to be surrounded by trees. I wanted to have winter, fall, spring, summer.’
Hugo Weaving – Agent Smith
As Neo’s nemesis Agent Smith, Aussie actor Hugo Weaving, 64, created one of the most menacing antagonists in recent blockbuster film history.
The iconic role propelled the Aussie household name even further into Hollywood stardom, and he has taken on an array of very famous roles in the 25 years since.
He notably starred as Elrond in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and portrayed the masked vigilante in V For Vendetta alongside Natalie Portman.
He has also secured roles in huge movies including Transformers and Cloud Atlas, but has turned away from Hollywood in recent years.
He previously admitted prefers Australian productions over overseas roles, sharing his dislike for Los Angeles specifically.
‘My focus has always been in Australia,’ he told the Today show back in 2021. ‘I’ve worked for the Sydney Theatre Company for 40 years now.’
‘I tend to favour local productions over working overseas. My first choice of roles, I always look for things here, for working on film here.’
‘I do work in Australia. I’ve never lived in Los Angeles, I hate the place. I’d much rather live and work here and work on great Australian scripts,’ he added.
As Neo’s nemesis Agent Smith, Aussie actor Hugo Weaving, 64, created one of the most menacing antagonists in recent blockbuster film memory
The iconic role propelled the household name even further into Hollywood stardom, and he has taken on an array of very famous roles in the 25 years since, including in V For Vendetta
However, Hugo (pictured in 2019) has turned away from Hollywood in recent years and returned to his life Down Under, sharing his dislike for LA in a recent interview
Instead, he has launched a career on the stage and recently performed in The President at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney.
The Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert star took on the leading role in the theatre masterpiece alongside Irish actress Olwen Fouéré.
He recently explained that he turned away from film in favour of the stage because it feels the most rewarding job for him.
He told The Guardian: ‘I go into an extreme place when I’m working in theatre. I can’t work hard enough and there is never enough time, and then the rewards start coming with that.’
In his personal life, Hugo has also been in a relationship with his partner Katrina Greenwood since the 1980s.
The couple first met when Hugo was four years old as they lived across the road from each other in Sydney, but didn’t properly get to know each other until years later when Hugo was at drama school.
They started dating in the 1980s when they were both in their mid 20s and later welcomed two children, Harry and Holly.
Matt Doran – Mouse
Matt Doran played Mouse, the smallest crew member of the famous hovercraft Nebuchadnezzar, who meets a grizzly end in a blaze of glory at the hands of SWAT forces.
The Aussie actor, 46, was a well-known talent Down Under before appearing in The Matrix, having portrayed Damien Roberts on Channel Seven soap Home and Away.
But the action franchise saw him rise to global fame and nab a string of high-profile gigs in the following years.
Matt Doran played Mouse, the smallest crew member of the famous hovercraft Nebuchadnezzar, who meets a grizzly end in a blaze of glory at the hands of SWAT forces
Still working as an actor, Matt revealed in 2022 that he also has a day job to help him pay the bills in-between his acting gigs
He starred as Elan Sleazebaggano in Star Wars Episode III: Attack of the Clones and alongside Sam Worthington as Malcolm in Geffory Wright’s 2003 adaptation of Macbeth.
Still working as an actor, Matt revealed in 2022 that he also has a day job to help him pay the bills in-between his acting gigs.
‘I also do building work to keep myself busy and to pay the bills,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
When he’s not working on building sites, Matt takes on film and TV jobs whenever they arise, describing acting as his ‘main passion’.
‘When something comes along now, then great, I would love the opportunity, but if it is not there, no worries, I have other stuff to do and things to keep myself busy with, so it keeps me grounded,’ he said.
Ada Nicodemou – Djour
One of Australia’s most beloved television actresses, Ada Nicoudemou had a small role as Dujor, otherwise known as the White Rabbit Girl.
The scene saw Dujor and her boyfriend, Choi, visit Neo at his apartment to pick up some illegal software that he wrote in his spare time for extra money.
Following her Matrix role, Ada was cast in the role that would come to define her career – as Leah Patterson on beloved Aussie soap Home and Away.
Ada has played the role since 2000 across a formidable 2275 episodes, and is now a well-recognised talent Down Under.
She has also started dating her Home and Away co-star James Stewart in recent months, after they were seen kissing on Anzac Day earlier this year.
One of Australia’s most beloved television actresses, Ada Nicoudemou had a small role as Dujor, otherwise known as the White Rabbit Girl
Following her Matrix role, Ada was cast in the role that would come to define her career – as Leah Patterson (pictured with James Stewart’s Justin Morgan) on Aussie soap Home and Away
Last month, Ada finally broken her silence as she confirmed that she is dating her co-star James, 48, describing their romance as ‘unexpected’.
‘Jimmy and I are together, yes. It’s only early days. It’s very recent and very unexpected. I’m super happy. It’s really lovely,’ she told Stellar Magazine.
She insisted their Home And Away characters Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan getting married on-screen was not an early sign of their real-life romance.
The wedding episode aired on April 9 but was filmed around six months earlier, with Ada insisting their ‘genuine feelings’ only emerged later.
‘There weren’t genuine feelings then,’ she explained. ‘It was shot last year. But I think whenever you’re watching any TV couple, you’re always wondering if they really do have feelings.’
Ada and James have known each other since 1998, when they filmed Aussie drama Breakers, and have been co-stars on Home and Away for seven years.
Of their working relationship, Ada gushed: ‘We’ve always respected each other […] I always like going to work – we push ourselves, and push each other, in a really good way.’
The couple began dating after Ada split from her ex-partner Adam Rigby just before Christmas last year and James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March.
Sources have claimed the pair are planning their much-anticipated relationship red carpet ‘hard launch’ at the 2024 Logie Awards on August 18.
In a new interview, Ada, 47, confirmed that she is dating her longtime co-star James, 48, (both pictured) describing their romance as ‘unexpected’
Rowan Witt – Spoon Bending Boy
While Rowan Witt has not ventured into Hollywood since starring as the spoon bending boy, he has gone on to become a hugely successful stage actor.
The 34-year-old has entered the world of theatre and famously played King George III in the Australian production of Hamilton from 2022 until 2023.
He is also notable for being the only Australian actor to screen test for the lead in Harry Potter, which later went to Daniel Radcliffe.
Rowan is a fixture of Australian stage and screen, having appeared at the Sydney Opera House and Lincoln Center productions of the musical South Pacific.
He was also in the Australian cast of The Book of Mormon as Elder McKinley, for which he received a Sydney Theatre Award in 2018 and a Helpmann nomination.
He has post recently starred in the Stan Original series Totally Completely Fine, a black comedy that was filmed in Sydney last year.
While Rowan Witt has not ventured into Hollywood since starring as the spoon bending boy, he has gone on to become a hugely successful stage actor
The 34-year-old has entered the world of theatre and famously played King George III in the Australian production of Hamilton from 2022 until 2023
Paul Goddard – Agent Brown
British-born actor Paul Goddard played Agent Brown – the agent who pursued Trinity on the rooftops and injected Morpheus with a program – in The Matrix.
Since appearing in the iconic film, Paul has continued to work in film, appearing in Jane Campion’s 1999 film Holy Smoke and the 2015 Neil Armfield drama Holding The Man.
He also has a slew of TV credits to his name including Farscape, All Saints, Top of the Lake and Halifax: Retribution.
Away from the camera, Paul also works as an executive coach, professional role player and learning and development consultant for Duncan Young Consulting.
British-born actor Paul Goddard played Agent Brown – the agent who pursued Trinity on the rooftops and injected Morpheus with a program – in The Matrix
Away from the camera, Paul also works as an executive coach, professional role player and learning and development consultant for Duncan Young Consulting
