Diane Keaton remembers her last director: ‘The paparazzi melted into puddles at her feet’ | film

Diane Keaton has been an icon since she was born. Who was I to guide her? To fill her head with my dialogue? To give her a note suggesting, “It might be funnier if you tried…”?

And yet, as she towered over me in her Gucci heels, she never made me feel an inch shorter as I guided her through what would end up being her final film.

While many will remember her for her amazing performance, for the way her laugh transformed the room as soon as she entered or the way she added lightness to even the toughest night shots, I will remember her more for what she taught me about being a woman. Diane didn’t just exist in the world, she shaped it around her, carving out a space for herself to be unapologetic. Diane. She knew who she was and what she needed to be the best she could be — like a second hotel room so she had space on weekends to design her next art book. she I love To work I rarely take a day off. But perhaps more importantly, she possessed a level of confidence without crossing that fragile line into arrogance.

What you see on screen is exactly who she is – although you might be surprised to learn that her mouth resembles that of a sailor. Her strangeness was not coordinated, but born of her naturally glowing self. In an age when authenticity has become yet another buzzword, when women are pushed toward uniformity, Diane stood firmly outside the algorithm. She had no interest in following trends, and I don’t think she even intended to set them. And the idea of ​​dressing or acting a certain way to attract a man? funny.

Although I don’t know if she had thought about the male gaze earlier in her life, I can say unequivocally that it was not a factor that influenced her at the time I knew her. But, of course, this spirit of individualism and freedom was attractive, on and off screen. She didn’t hesitate to joke around with any crew member able to match her quick wit, which often led to young, handsome photographers melting into puddles at her feet as she strutted away from the cover, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on people, and the power it contained.

She truly created her own reality and that’s where she lived: untouched by so many of the menial concerns that consume us mere mortals. In this way, she maintained a certain childlike innocence – a youthful exuberance and love of life, approaching every interaction, be it with her co-stars or interns on set, without an ounce of inhibition. She was not afraid, but she faced her fears with strength and determination. Nothing demonstrated that better than her agreeing (at age 77!) to jump off the slide to capture the final shot of our film, after about an hour of back and forth, as the sun sank below the horizon.

It only occurs to me now that, in a career spanning decades, filled with awards and box office hits, she spent her last day with me on a movie set. We shot late at night, slightly over the agreed upon time. I could tell it was exhausting, as a six-week trek in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, shooting rapids, doing her own stunts and gossip, and a day-long food fight would be tough for any actor. Add to that, she spent days flying in and out of town to lobby for another film. But she kept showing up, in every shot, giving every ounce of herself. And make no mistake, she is herself – unlike the actors who wanted to be called by their characters’ names, she insisted on being spoken to as Diane. Without pretension, without beating around the bush or reaching back through her assistant, she wanted to be addressed directly, like her. She was, is and always will be, Diane.