Actress Reese Witherspoon fondly remembered the legendary Diane Keaton during an event in Los Angeles. Witherspoon recalled how important Keaton was in the very early days of her career.
Reese Witherspoon Pays Tribute to Diane Keaton
Following the news of Diane Keaton’s death on October 11 at age 79, Witherspoon took a couple of minutes to pay tribute to the actress at Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event in Los Angeles.
Witherspoon starred alongside Keaton in the 1991 movie “Wildflower.”
“I just wanted to talk to you for one second because â and I’m gonna try and get through this without tearing up â but I don’t know if you guys heard that Diane Keaton passed today,” Witherspoon said on stage.
She continued, “I had to take a second to just really think about it because when I was 15-years-old, Diane was really important to me. She was one of my first mentors in this business. I was 15 years old and I was from Nashville, Tennessee, and I didn’t know anybody.”
Witherspoon recalled one of her early movie auditions, where she had a “big country accent.”
“And she she goes, ‘Who are you?’” Witherspoon noted.
“I said, ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee.’ And she said, ‘Are you making that [accent] up?’ And I said, ‘No, ma’am, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, and I’m here and I’d love to be in your movie.’ And she was like, ‘Well you’re hired. You’re hired today, tomorrow, and the next day. I don’t know who you are, but I am so excited to have you,’” the actress recalled.
Witherspoon shared just how meaningful it was to work with Keaton, who also directed the movie. “That was one of the most important summers of my childhood because she really took the time to pull me aside and say: ‘Stand up straight, okay? I want you to have good posture. If you’re going to be an actress, you’ve got to work on your posture, okay?’” the actress shared.
Witherspoon Calls Keaton ‘Truly Original’
Witherspoon noted, “But the thing that I just loved about her is she was such an original. And if you just close your mind and think of Diane Keaton … I guarantee you, from ‘Annie Hall’ to ‘The Godfather,’ to ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ she is just incredible and indelible and just a truly original person.”
She added, “So for Diane, watch one of her movies and wear like a really cool, interesting outfit, black and white, take a cool picture, and just live your dream. Just be your unique, interesting self. I think Diane would be really happy. So rest in peace Diane.”
Witherspoon spoke of the experience during the American Film Institute’s AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Diane Keaton in 2017. “She directed me in my second film ever … I was such a novice,” she recalled.
“She was just so clear,” Witherspoon said of Keaton’s directing talent. “Because she has what in this business we call ‘the eye.’ And that is the genius of Diane.”
She added, “You are the only you there is, and she taught me to always be an original, just like her. And for that, Diane, I cannot thank you enough.”
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