Diane Keaton names the biggest regret of her career: “I didn’t pull it off”
In the classic romantic comedy Annie Hall, Diane Keaton plays the titular character effortlessly, perhaps because it was written for her. Captivating viewers across the world with her natural charisma and masculine outfits that she wore so well, the film would’ve been nothing without Keaton’s presence, which remains the heart and soul of the movie.
It was no surprise that she won an Academy Award for the performance, although that wasn’t the first time she’d embodied a role terrifically. Before she starred in Annie Hall, she rose to prominence as a key character in The Godfather trilogy, playing the wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone. These movies allowed her to rise to prominence in Hollywood, and she asserted her place in the industry as a rather unconventional star, known for her quirkiness.
This has inevitably worked in her favour, and Keaton has had an incredibly successful career over the years, from her early days on Broadway to her later years as a comedy star. From The First Wives Club and Father of the Bride to Marvin’s Room and Something’s Gotta Give, Keaton’s presence in Hollywood has remained constant, and she has even tried her hand at directing.
However, this is something that she has mixed feelings about, even considering her attempts at directing one of her biggest regrets. She first entered the director’s chair when she made the short film What Does Dorrie Want? in 1982 before making the documentary Heaven in 1987.
Keaton then made Unstrung Heroes in 1995, which was a critical and commercial success, although her next effort, Hanging Up, was a massive failure. She told The Independent, “I didn’t pull it off,” adding, “I would like to try again, though. I would like to try, but I think I’d have to find the right smaller movie for me.” Unfortunately for Keaton, since the failure of the movie in 2000, she hasn’t exactly been overwhelmed with offers to direct anything else. “Well, when you have a failure, which Hanging Up was, people aren’t going, ‘Gee, can you please direct my movie?’”
The film featured some big names, including Keaton, Meg Ryan, Walter Matthau and Lisa Kudrow, and while their performances were up to scratch, Hanging Up failed to impress any critics with its lacklustre writing and direction. Written by rom-com queen Nora Ephron, you’d think that Hanging Up would’ve succeeded considering it had the recipe of a perfect romantic comedy, but sometimes movies simply fall flat.
Keaton has admitted in the past that directing isn’t easy, and she once told The Hollywood Reporter that “I thought I could do it, but really, it was rough.” She added, “I don’t mean [people] were rough or anyone, it was me. Sometimes it’d be a little easier, and then other times you’d be anxious. You need to really be on it and really smart about what you’re delving into with the subject that you’ve been given. I get that as an actress more — or an actor type or whatever I am — just by being one of the characters.”
So, while she has given directing a good go – and she did find success with Unstrung Heroes and even an episode of Twin Peaks – she prefers her role as an actor.
