What did Diane Keaton say about marriage? Actress once called herself an "oddball" for never tying the knot

Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress who passed away at age 79, lived a full life on her own terms.

She never got married, a decision she spoke about in several interviews over the years. In a 2019 interview with People Magazine, she said,

“I’m an odd ball (for not getting married).”

Throughout her career, Keaton was romantically linked to several popular celebrities, including Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, and Al Pacino. However, she never got married.

In the same interview, she also said, “I think that I’m strange. I think I’m the only one in my generation and maybe before who has been a single woman all her life.”

Her decision to remain unmarried wasn't due to a lack of love, but because she knew what was best for her. Keaton also said that she was happy with her life decisions and did not need to change them to suit others.

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Why Diane Keaton never married?

Diane Keaton also reflected on why marriage was not for her. She believed she lacked the nurturing instinct that many people associate with being a wife.

“I think that I needed more of a maternal aspect,” she once said. “I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t, and I’m sure they’re happy about it, too.”

Keaton shared that even from a young age, the idea of being a wife did not appeal to her. She recalled a moment from high school when a boy told her she would make a good wife someday.

“I remember one day in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife.' And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.'” she remembered.

While Keaton dated talented and famous men, she later admitted that her attraction to them was not always healthy.

“When I was young, I was looking to be loved by these extraordinary people,” she said. “I think I should not have been so seduced by talent. When you’re both doing the same job, it’s not so great. I should have found just a nice human being, kind of a family guy.”

Read More: Diane Keaton's legacy: Five films you should watch to honor the legendary actress

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Finding fulfillment outside marriage

Diane Keaton has never gotten married but managed to create her own family. She has two adopted children, Dexter, born in 1995, and Duke, born in 2001. After becoming a mother, she said she had acquired a new type of happiness and balance. She also mentioned that motherhood transformed the way she viewed herself and allowed her to develop in a way that marriage could not have.

In her later years, Keaton found companionship in her golden retriever, Reggie.

She spoke warmly about her dog, saying in a 2023 AARP interview, “I just love her. Dogs are irresistible. They’re just idiots. Reggie is a big jerk, and she’s a great jerk, and she’s hilarious.”

By that time, Keaton had stopped dating altogether. She shared that the idea of dating no longer interested her.

“I don’t date,” she told AARP. “Highly unlikely. I don’t remember anyone calling me, going, ‘This is So-and-So. I’d like to take you out.’ They don’t happen. Of course not.”

Read More: Legendary actress Diane Keaton has passed away