Why Diane Keaton Never Married but Chose to Raise Two Children Alone at 50
One of Hollywood’s leading ladies has never been married, and her decision is a lesson in choosing your own happiness even when it goes against the grain.
For decades, Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has played the leading lady alongside some of Hollywood’s finest actors like Al Pacino and Steve Martin. But beyond the screen, the actress has been vocal about her decision to never marry.
In a series of questions and answers for Interview Magazine where the actress responded to questions from her celebrity friends, Lisa Kudrow asked Keaton why she never decided to tie the knot.
Kudrow, who’s most famous for her role as Phoebe Buffay on Friends, asks Keaton, “Our society has always had an expectation for women to get married, and you’ve said it just hasn’t felt right for you. What informed that feeling?”
The 76-year-old actress traces her decision back to her childhood. She recounted she noticed an unequal dynamic between her parents as a young girl. Keaton felt like her mother chose family over her dreams and that’s why she chose not to get married.
“It goes back to my mother, because, for me, most everything does. I love my dad, of course—that goes without saying—but she was always there, and he was always working. He was working hard, and he was really interesting.”
The actress commended her mother’s sacrifices, and acknowledges that as the oldest of four children, she noticed that her mother chose family over her dreams.
“She had four kids, and I was the firstborn. I saw how much she gave up. I mentioned watching her get that crowning glory and being Mrs. Highland Park. After that, we moved down to Santa Ana, and it was over. There was no more trying things out. 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.”
While Keaton dated her fair share of A-List actors like Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, and Warren Beatty, the actress values her independence fiercely, and also admits that the prospect of marriage never really came up with her partners.
