Few actresses have moved through the decades with as much grace, wit, and emotional truth as Diane Keaton. A fashion icon, a muse, a modern woman — self-aware, ironic, free. Since the 1970s, she’s challenged the expectations placed on women in film, balancing laughter and melancholy, love and solitude, always with disarming honesty.

Her career is a portrait of the evolving American woman: from the shy quirkiness of Annie Hall to the luminous maturity of Something’s Gotta Give, Diane made discomfort her strength and vulnerability her superpower.

These are her 10 most unforgettable performances, each one capturing a different facet of the woman she was — and the women she portrayed.

1. Annie Hall (1977) – Annie Hall
   The role that defined a generation and earned her an Oscar. Diane turned Annie into a symbol of authenticity, intelligence, and unconventional beauty.
   
2. The Godfather Trilogy (1972–1990) – Kay Adams-Corleone
   The moral compass of the Corleone family, embodying innocence lost in the shadow of power.
   
3. Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) – Theresa Dunn
   A daring and haunting portrayal of a woman searching for freedom and meaning in a dangerous world.
   
4. Reds (1981) – Louise Bryant
   As the journalist and activist Louise Bryant, Keaton brought fierce conviction and emotional fire to Warren Beatty’s sweeping political epic.
   
5. Baby Boom (1987) – J.C. Wiatt
   A sharp and funny take on balancing ambition and motherhood — one of the defining comedies of the 1980s.
   
6. Father of the Bride (1991) – Nina Banks
   The emotional anchor of the family, tender and wise amid the chaos of wedding madness.
   
7. The First Wives Club (1996) – Annie MacDuggan Paradis
   A feminist comedy classic — Keaton’s warmth and timing made her the soul of this iconic trio.
   
8. Marvin’s Room (1996) – Bessie
   A quietly devastating performance as a woman facing mortality with grace and compassion.
   
9. Something’s Gotta Give (2003) – Erica Barry
   Keaton turned aging, heartbreak, and desire into a romantic triumph — and earned another Oscar nomination.
   
10. Morning Glory (2010) – Colleen Peck
    A hilarious, biting performance that proved her comedic spark was as bright as ever.