Diane Keaton had two children in her 50s and raised them as a single mother until her death, but she did not choose to marry.
“Motherhood has never been an irresistible urge for me,” she once explained to Women’s Home Journal. “It sounded like an idea I’d had for a long time, so I jumped in.”
Regarding her decision to raise two adult children as a single mother, she told Women’s Home Journal that she was “not at all ready to be a mother.”
As for her romantic relationship, she told People in 2019 that her decision to forego marriage was preordained, despite having adopted daughters Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25, in 1996 and 2001.
“I think I’m the only woman in my generation, and maybe even before, to have been single all my life,” she told the magazine.
“Getting married was never a good idea for me,” explained the Oscar-winning actress, who has dated Al Pacino, Warren Beatty and Annie Hall director Woody Allen.
The “Father of the Bride” actress, who confirmed to People on Saturday that she has died at the age of 79 in California, also revealed that she simply did not want to be a wife.
“I remember one day in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’ll be a good wife,'” she told the outlet.
“And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife.'”
“I’m really glad I didn’t do that, and I’m sure they’re glad too,” she said, referring to her famous ex-partner.
Although she never married, some of the style icon and actress’ most memorable roles centered on motherhood and marriage, including 1996’s The First Wives Club with Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn and 1991’s Father of the Bride with Steve Martin.
Keaton is also an avid animal lover, and his last social media post in April celebrated National Pet Day with his dog, Reggie.
As recently as 2023, Keaton opened up to AARP Magazine about his stance on relationships.
“I’m not dating,” she told the media at the time. “I don’t remember anyone calling me and saying, ‘This is so-and-so, I’d like to take you there.'”
“That’s not going to happen,” she added. “Of course not.”
