Diane Keaton, who has died at 79, leaves behind a legacy that is as much about vulnerability as it is about artistic achievement. In an industry that prizes invincibility, she showed that true strength lies in the courage to share one’s scars, as she did with her battles against skin cancer and bulimia.
Her vulnerability was evident in her candid admissions of regret. “That was stupid,” she said of her youthful failure to use sunblock, a refreshingly honest statement that stripped away any pretense of perfection. By admitting her flaws, she made her subsequent advocacy for sun safety deeply authentic.
She displayed an even deeper vulnerability when discussing her bulimia. To reveal the secret world of a 20,000-calorie-a-day binge, to call herself an “addict,” and to admit she needed help for her “mental issues” were acts of profound self-exposure. She chose to be seen in her entirety, scars and all.
This vulnerability was not a sign of weakness, but of immense strength. It takes courage to stand before the world and share the parts of yourself that society often deems shameful. In doing so, Keaton challenged the stigma around both physical and mental illness.
Her legacy is a powerful lesson for a culture that often hides its imperfections. She showed that our scars do not diminish us; they are a testament to the battles we have survived. Diane Keaton’s strength was in her vulnerability, and it is this legacy that will continue to resonate and inspire.