Diane Keaton frequently spoke about her choice to abstain from marriage, despite being romantically involved with some of Hollywood’s most sought-after men in the 1970s.
“I was reflecting on this today. At 73, I believe I’m unique in my generation, and possibly earlier, as a woman who has remained single throughout her life,” she mentioned to People in 2019.
The actress — who passed away on October 11 at the age of 79 — had several prominent relationships with her fellow Hollywood actors early in her career. Keaton served as a muse for actor-director Woody Allen during their brief time as a couple, in addition to being linked to her Godfather and Reds costars Al Pacino and Warren Beatty, respectively.
Keaton embraced motherhood later in life by adopting two children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, in her 50s but never felt compelled to get married.
Continue scrolling to revisit Keaton’s remarks about why she never tied the knot.
The Right Thing
Keaton gave a straightforward answer during a 1996 ABC News interview when questioned about why she “never got married.”
“I suppose I never got married because marriage wasn’t something I desired,” Keaton responded. “I opted out of marriage, and with the individuals I was involved with, it was better that we didn’t marry. I made the correct decision.”
An Oddball
In a 2019 conversation with People, Keaton implied that marriage might not have suited her because she saw herself as an outsider.
“I believe I’m peculiar,” she remarked. “I lack knowledge, and I haven’t gained any. Growing older hasn’t imparted wisdom.”
Keaton contended that she had “something missing” and that a husband would require someone who “nurtured” them, a role she couldn’t fulfill.
Diane Keaton in November 2019. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
“I’m a bit of an oddity,” she admitted. “I recall a moment in high school when a boy approached me and remarked, ‘You’ll make a good wife someday.’ And I thought, ‘I have no desire to be a wife. None.'”
‘Seduced By Talent’
The First Wives Club actress refuted the negative notion that she might be “sad” about remaining unmarried.
“[I’m not sad] because I believe I needed more of a maternal influence,” she shared with People. “I don’t think marriage would have been beneficial for me, and I’m truly relieved I didn’t marry, and I’m certain they feel the same way.”
She added, “In my youth, I sought affection from these remarkable individuals. I believe I was too easily swayed by talent. When you’re both in the same profession, it’s not ideal. I should have sought out a kind, ordinary individual, someone family-oriented.”
Conflicted Feelings
In a 2019 conversation with YouTuber Kjersti Flaa, Keaton considered whether she was “genuinely being truthful” when she stated she never wanted to “be someone’s wife.”
“I did express that sentiment, and at times, I question its accuracy,” she confessed. “I believe, in theory, that being married might have been a positive experience because I recognize it as a significant and wonderful institution for individuals to unite, remain together, and share their lives. However, I don’t think I possessed the capacity for it.”
Keaton speculated that assuming “the role [her] mother had” as a housewife would have been “demanding.”
“I didn’t desire that. I didn’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps,” she affirmed. “I observed that she harbored significant aspirations that she couldn’t fulfill due to having four children and a husband in the ’50s.”
‘A Different Sort of Love’
Keaton emphasized in that 2019 interview that, “since marriage never truly materialized,” she cultivated “a different kind of love” for the people in her life.
“I deeply cherish the family I have… those individuals and my friends hold immense importance to me,” she added.
Ideal Husband
While Keaton often provided insightful answers when discussing marriage, she once playfully wondered if a particular Hollywood heartthrob might sway her decision.
“Who’s going to [marry me]?” she jested on The Ellen Degeneres Show in 2015, before suggesting: “Wait, I know! Channing Tatum?”
After host Ellen Degeneres delivered the disappointing news that Tatum was already married to Jenna Dewan at the time, Keaton quipped: “Channing Tatum is married to someone else… and not me?”
Just For You
