Despite studying drama in Santa Ana college, she inevitably dropped out in the pursuit of many actors and thespians wildest dreams; New York. She began acting in The Neighbourhood Playhouse, where soon after she caught the attention of Woody Allen who cast her in his Broadway production of Play It Again Sam, which was eventually adapted for screen. It follows the hopeless romantic geeky guy Allan on his quest for love after his wife abruptly leaves him. It is clear to see the blooming romance between Allen and Keaton as their chemistry on screen is simply off the charts, and they continued to be romantically involved for several years.
However, when Keaton got cast as Kay in The Godfather, she was unstoppable, and reprised the role in 1974 for The Godfather Part Two. Despite the praise she got for the role, Keaton did not win a single academy award for Part One or Part Two. She was, on the other hand, making her mark in the industry. Diane Keaton was slowly becoming one of Hollywood’s most distinguishable and gripping actors, and Annie Hall (1977) established this.
Her character became branded, and so did Keaton.
Keaton’s role as Annie Hall, a role written for Keaton by Allen, not only cemented her place in acting history, but also in fashion history. Her character became branded, and so did Keaton, for her menswear fashion, where she was often seen in ties, wide leg suit pants, waistcoats, and men’s hats. From this point forward, Keaton’s look was integral to her acting, and she defied the conventions of fashion in Annie Hall and continued to do so throughout her career. Although The Godfather did not leave Keaton with much to show in awards, Annie Hall made up for this where she won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Keaton continued to make history with her iconic and distinct independent woman character when she starred in Charles Shyer’s Baby Boom. She plays the role of a thriving businesswoman J.C Wiatt living in New York who she comes into an inheritance when a distant relative of hers passes away. To her surprise, the inheritance is a baby. Keaton was subsequently nominated for another Golden Globe for her role as J.C Wiatt, and throughout the 90’s was persistently recognised by The Golden Globes and The Academy for her work. She was nominated in 1994 for Best Performance in Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery, where she starred with and worked alongside Woody Allen again, displaying their good-natured relationship despite being separated. She was nominated once again for Best Performance in Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight, and the 90’s remained a success for her after appearing rather infrequently in cinema in the early 80’s.
For Keaton, the 1990’s saw her take on more mature roles in films such as The First Wives Club, Father of The Bride, and The Godfather: Part Three and reinvent her type cast, but she remained just as iconic in her signature style. Keaton continued her acting career into the noughties, taking on a multitude of versatile characters, most notably in Nancy Meyers’ Somethings Gotta Give where she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Critics Choice Award, and many more.
Keaton has earned her spot in Hollywood as one of the most distinctive, stylish, and impactful actors of her generation over her 52 year long career. She remains an inspiration to many aspiring actors, a template for female fashion, and an illustration of hard work and the success it can bring. Keaton will be sorely missed, and her absence from our screens will not go unnoticed.