Diane Keaton Reveals Why She Never Got Married and Why She Became a Single Mom in Her 50s Using Adoption

Diane Keaton has had a fruitful acting career spanning over 5 decades. One of her most memorable roles, that of Annie Hall, has earned her an Oscar for Best Actress, only 7 years after her first appearance on the big screen. While Diane continued to amaze us with her talent, she never found her true love and learned that happiness doesn’t go hand in hand with romance.

We at Bright Side not only admire Diane Keaton’s acting talent, but also her personality, so we wanted to learn more about her life.

Diane takes an interest in acting

Diane Keaton was born on January 5, 1946 as Diane Hall in Los Angeles, California. Diane’s mom, Dorothy, won a pageant for housewives, which later inspired her daughter to pursue her interest in acting. In high school, she was an active member of drama clubs and later went on to study under professionals.

A star is born

In 1968 Diane became an understudy for the female lead in the Broadway musical Hair and a few months later landed a role in Woody Allen’s play, Play It Again, Sam. The next year, the young actress had her film debut in Lovers and Other Strangers, and appeared in a few smaller roles, including some deodorant commercials.

In 1972 Diane Keaton was cast in Coppola’s The Godfather as Kay Adams, a role she also played in the following 2 parts of the movie. The Godfather received an Academy Award for Best Picture and became a huge financial success, which in turn made Diane a well-established actress at the age of 26.

A few years later, Keaton appeared in Annie Hall directed by Woody Allen, where she played the lead role, and was awarded an Oscar award for Best Actress. The actress had met Allen a few years earlier and the 2 began a brief romance. Their artistic relationship, however, continued for decades, and they collaborated on 8 films.

High profile romances with fellow actors

Although Diane Keaton never tied the knot, she had a series of romances with men from the movie industry. After her romantic relationship with Allen ended, Diane dated her The Godfather co-star Al Pacino and Warren Beatty, with whom she starred in Reds.

Well-established, versatile actress

The ’70s proved to be a very successful decade for Diane’s career, but she showed no sign of slowing down in the ’80s and ’90s either. From playing the wife of a prison warden in the historical drama Mrs. Soffel to appearing as a mother to 2 children in the comedy Father of the Bride, the multitalented actress took on different personas with ease.

Views on marriage

After her romances in the ’80s and ’90s ended, Diane chose to not pursue romantic love anymore. In a public discussion with Lisa Kudrow from a few years ago, the famous actress opened up about deciding to never get married.

Although Diane had a great appreciation for her father, she revealed her mom’s marriage influenced her to never tie the knot. “I feel like she chose family over her dreams. And she was just the best mother, but I think that she is the reason why I didn’t get married. I didn’t want to give up my independence.”

Becoming a single mom in her 50s using adoption

Diane decided to become a mother when she was 50 years old, adopting her daughter Dexter in 1996 and welcoming her son, Duke, 5 years later. Because Diane never found the love of her life, she accepted being a single mom and raised her 2 children alone.

“Motherhood has completely changed me,” Diane revealed in an interview, “It’s just about the most completely humbling experience that I’ve ever had.”

“I haven’t been on a date in, I would say, 35 years”

Diane Keaton is very content to focus on her career and spend time with her now adult children. In a 2019 interview, the actress revealed that she quit dating for good more than 3 decades ago. “I haven’t been on a date in, I would say, 35 years,” Diane told a magazine, adding that, “I have a lot of male friends. I have a lot of friends, but no dates.”

A few years earlier, Diane was already happily living the single life, saying that, “The loves of my life are my children and my mother. I don’t feel as if I need a man. Don’t get me wrong, I love men... but I have kids and my work. That’s fine with me.”

What is your favorite movie starring Diane Keaton? What do you think about becoming a mom later in life? Tell us in the comment section below!