NEED TO KNOW
- Reese Witherspoon got emotional remembering Diane Keaton, who directed Wildflower, one of her first movies
- “She is just incredible and indelible and just a truly original person,” Witherspoon gushed of Keaton during her company Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event on Oct. 11
- Keaton, best known for roles in movies like Annie Hall and The Godfather, died at age 79 earlier in the day
Reese Witherspoon is remembering Diane Keaton, one of her most cherished mentors in Hollywood.
While appearing at her company Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event on Oct. 11, the actress, 49, recounted some of her earliest memories of the late Annie Hall star, who died at age 79 in California on Saturday, Oct. 11.
“I was 15 years old and I was from Nashville, Tenn., and I didn’t know anybody,” Witherspoon said during a discussion with author Harlan Coben about their upcoming novel, Gone Before Goodbye, which took place hours after PEOPLE revealed the news of Keaton’s death.
Witherspoon starred in the 1991 film Wildflower, which Keaton directed. “I auditioned for her, and she looked at me after. I came in with this big country accent, and I was playing this little southern girl, and she goes, ‘Who are you?’ ” she recalled.
“I said, ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon and I’m from Nashville, Tenn.,’ ” the mom of three continued. “And she said, ‘Are you making that up? That accent you’re doing?’ And I said, ‘No, ma’am. I’m from Nashville, Tenn., and I’m here, and I’d love to be in your movie.’ And she was like, ‘Well, you’re hired. You’re hired today, tomorrow, and the next day. I don’t know who you are, but I am so excited to have you.’ ”
Witherspoon starred in Wildflower with Patricia Arquette, Beau Bridges, William McNamara and Susan Blakely.
The support she received from Keaton at the time, Witherspoon said, made her deem the timeframe as “one of the most important summers” of her childhood.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“She really took the time to pull me aside and say, ‘Stand up straight, okay? I want you to have good posture. If you’re going to be an actress, you’ve got to work on your posture,’ “ Witherspoon explained. “I was like, ‘Okay, Ms. Keaton.’ “
While filming one particularly emotional scene for the film, Witherspoon remembered that the Oscar winner gave her nothing but honest advice that would shape the rest of her career.
Still, she added that the thing she loved most about Keaton was her originality. “From Annie Hall to The Godfather to Something’s Gotta Give, she is just incredible and indelible and just a truly original person,” Witherspoon gushed.
“So for Diane, watch one of her movies and wear a really cool, interesting outfit, black and white. Take a cool picture and just live your dream. Just be your unique, interesting self. I think Diane would be really happy,” she continued.
Read the full article here
