Summary
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Ballerina features a major late-film twist revealing Lena as Eve’s long-lost sister.
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Catalina Sandino Moreno says the film intentionally hides clues to surprise viewers.
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Lena’s discovery of her family connection shifts her motivations in the story’s final act.
The recently released John Wick spin-off Ballerina stunned audiences with a major late-film reveal that reshaped the entire narrative. Actor Catalina Sandino Moreno, who plays the assassin Lena, offered new insights into this pivotal moment and its emotional impact on her character.
How Is Lena’s Sister Reveal Set Up in Ballerina?
In Ballerina, directed by Len Wiseman and now playing in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate, Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a ballerina assassin seeking vengeance for her father’s death. Throughout the film, she is hunted by another assassin, Lena, played by Catalina Sandino Moreno.
The story takes a dramatic turn late in the movie when it is revealed that Lena is in fact Eve’s long-lost sister—a twist that significantly reframes their conflict.
Speaking to The Direct, Moreno explained that audiences were not meant to catch on to this surprise earlier in the film.
“They’re not gonna think about that,” she said. “You’d start the film with Eve being a child with her father, and the father hinting, saying, you look so much like your sister. But you will never think that this assassin… is actually her sister.”
This deliberate narrative choice allowed the filmmakers to build maximum emotional impact when the truth is finally revealed. For Lena, the discovery of her sibling connection is a profound moment that changes everything.
“I think that it’s a yearning,” Moreno shared. “She’s never had a family… and when she finally knows that this woman that she’s trying to get is her sister, everything changes. And that’s when she turns and starts thinking for herself.”
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How Did Catalina Sandino Moreno Approach the Twist in Ballerina?
Catalina Sandino Moreno revealed that the core of Lena’s character remained consistent throughout the film’s development. While some minor adjustments were made during production, the essential elements of the character—including the powerful twist—were always part of the plan.
“It changed, but very, very little,” Moreno explained. “I feel that the core of the character has always been there.”
Following the emotional reveal, Lena’s fate takes a tragic turn. Shortly after learning the truth, she dies in an explosion—a moment that underscores the brutal nature of the John Wick universe. When asked if there was ever a version of the film where Lena survived longer, Moreno acknowledged the unpredictability of the franchise: “You never know.”
On building the sibling dynamic with co-star Ana de Armas, Moreno said their approach was organic and instinctive.
“We didn’t talk about what’s gonna happen, we’re just gonna ease into it. Let’s see what happens. Explore. And it came out nicely.”
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Ballerina is now playing in theaters worldwide, distributed by Lionsgate. The film is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and additional cast members from the John Wick universe.
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