Keanu Reeves says turning 40 was like being "in a club with a secret handshake".

Now 44, the American actor felt more included in his group of friends when he reached the landmark birthday.

He says: "It's funny - when you get to 40 it's like being in a club with a secret handshake! I remember my doctor telling me to enjoy my 40s because I will still have my physical capabilities but also my life experiences.

"We should take advantage of that before the physical capabilities slip away."

Reeves has previously starred in movies including The Matrix film franchise and Constantine, and will next be seen in sci-fi movie The Day the Earth Stood Still with Jennifer Connelly.

However, he doesn't mind if he becomes known for starring in sci-fi movies because he enjoys the genre.

"I grew up liking science fiction," he says. "It's almost like a Trojan horse. You can put any other genre inside. You can do a romance like Blade Runner, you can do an action romance like Star Wars or a comedy like Spaceballs. It really translates well into other genres.

"As to whether I get stereotyped for doing sci-fi, I don't know. For me, sci-fi is just one of the things I can do."

(Agencies/China Daily December 3, 2008)