Additional Coverage:
- Diane Keaton Embraced Aging Gracefully Before Her Death at 79: ‘I Think I’m Past All That’ (parade.com)
Diane Keaton’s Enduring Perspective on Aging and Authenticity
Veteran actress Diane Keaton has long been a refreshing voice in Hollywood, consistently advocating for a transparent and authentic approach to aging. Rather than shying away from the natural progression of time, the Oscar-winning star has openly shared her journey, challenging conventional beauty standards and embracing change on her own terms.
In a 2014 appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Keaton candidly discussed her evolving relationship with getting older, acknowledging the less glamorous aspects. “When I was approaching the aspect of my life where I’m growing, I started to notice when I’d look in the mirror, I saw something I didn’t want to see and that was my head,” she remarked, adding, “It didn’t turn out exactly I had hoped for because I was thinking of somebody more in the manner of Doris Day.”
That same year, Keaton delved deeper into these themes with her memoir, Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty. The book explored the intricate connections women often navigate between beauty, aging, and self-acceptance. When questioned about cosmetic enhancements, Keaton admitted to considering various options, such as addressing hair loss, but ultimately decided against procedures like plastic surgery.
Keaton often drew inspiration from women she admired during her formative years-individuals she characterized as “flawed,” “independent,” “outspoken,” and even “insecure,” yet consistently possessing a strong sense of humor. For her, beauty transcended superficial appearances.
“Beauty is honestly a feeling to me,” she shared. “I hate the fact that people put beauty on a pedestal and try to remove it from the ordinary experience of life but that’s all it is, it’s moment to moment.
It’s more all encompassing, it’s not a face in the mirror all the time.”
In a 2014 interview with AARP, Keaton further elaborated on her reasons for not conforming to industry beauty ideals. She reflected, “If I wanted to be prettier, fillers, Botox and a neck lift might help – but I think I’m past all that.
My feelings come out in my face and show who I am inside in ways that words can’t express.” She also questioned the very definition of authenticity, asserting that personal style choices, like her “eccentric” clothes and hats, do not diminish one’s true self.
She emphasized that authenticity is not dictated by whether someone opts for cosmetic procedures, experiences an undesirable outcome, or chooses to age naturally.
By 2019, speaking from her Brentwood, California home in a People interview, Keaton reaffirmed her stance on avoiding invasive cosmetic surgery. However, she did reveal one significant enhancement that was crucial for her health: “I had my teeth capped.
They were rotten because of the bulimia [I had in my 20s]. That’s the best thing about my face – my teeth have gotten better.”
This candid admission underscored her commitment to health and self-improvement, even as she embraced the visible signs of aging.