Never Married Diane Keaton Became Happy Single Mom at 50 — Motherhood Saved Her from 'Falling into a Bad Place'

Diane Keaton is an iconic actress revered for her roles in award-winning films such as "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather." But beyond her stellar career in Hollywood, Keaton is also a devoted mother to her two children, Dexter and Duke Keaton.

Diane Keaton adopted Dexter Keaton in 1996 at the age of 50, and five years later, in 2001, she adopted Duke Keaton. Diane's journey of adoption and motherhood has transformed her life.

She has a loving relationship with her children, and her daughter's recent wedding brought her more joy. The occasion was a special moment for the entire family, and Diane was overjoyed to witness her daughter begin a new chapter in her life.

Even with her successful and busy Hollywood career, Diane always had motherhood in her plans. She intended to wait until she was in a solid and committed relationship before taking the plunge, but that never happened. She added:

"Motherhood was not an urge I couldn't resist, it was more like a thought I'd been thinking for a very long time."

Instead, Diane, a self-confessed career-oriented woman, decided to follow through with her long-held desire to become a mother by adopting two children.

She attributes this decision to the impact of her father, who encouraged her to seize missed opportunities. If it weren't for her dad's advice, Diane might never have become the mother she is today.

At 50 years old, Diane Keaton became a mother to two beautiful children—a son and a daughter—and embraced them as her own. Reflecting on her decision, she said motherhood transformed her life.

In 1996, Diane adopted her daughter Dexter, born the previous year. Despite not following her mother's footsteps in Hollywood, Dexter has often accompanied the renowned actress on several red-carpet events.

In contrast to her celebrity mother, Dexter, a University of Arizona graduate, prefers to keep some details of her life as low-key as possible.

In 2001, Dexter's younger brother, Duke, joined the family. Like his older sister, the young man prefers to maintain a low profile and does not reveal many details about himself.

Despite not following in his mother's footsteps in show business, Duke has still rubbed elbows with a few celebrities. He even documented these sweet encounters on his Instagram, featuring English model Cara Delevign and British singer Rita Ora.

Aside from his apparent love for celebrity encounters, Duke seems to be a culinary adventurer. He has shared several cooking tutorials on social media, including one where he and a friend whip up a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs.

Not only does Duke take pleasure in the kitchen, but he also has a strong interest in photography, a hobby he picked up from Diane, who is an experienced photographer in her own right.

Diane stated that her mother was the one who encouraged her to take photos. Her mother also reminded her that photographs have a greater impact than words, and she used the phrase "visceral and intense" to describe the experience.

Diane's Life-Changing Motherhood Experience

Diane's motherhood journey has had a profound impact on her life. In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, a close friend of the actress revealed how Keaton's two adopted children, Dexter and Duke, changed her life for the better, claiming that they saved her from "falling into a bad place."

Before becoming a mother, Diane struggled with self-esteem issues. She had a history of dealing with bulimia in her 20s. However, motherhood brought the actress a new level of intimacy and self-awareness.

Diane has spoken about how motherhood has completely transformed her, stating that it has been "the most humanizing of all loves." She has emphasized the importance of being one's best self when raising a child and has learned to let go of the desire for validation from men.

The acclaimed actress said motherhood has taught her the value of unconditional love and helped her feel more connected to others.

Her motherhood journey has clearly been a source of growth and fulfillment for the actress. It has helped her to overcome her past struggles and to embrace a more authentic and fulfilling life.

One of her friends stated that without her children, Diane may have fallen into a difficult place emotionally. Instead, Diane has found joy and purpose in motherhood and has learned to embrace her true self.

Despite keeping a low profile, Diane's children have always been a source of joy for her.

A Glimpse of Diane as a Mother

Diane has kept her children's privacy, rarely sharing them on her social media platforms. On December 26, 2021, Diane made a rare exception and shared a sweet clip of her family in a heartwarming Christmas post.

Diane's children have been more open in sharing their relationship with their mother on their own Instagram accounts. In 2014, Dexter shared a photo with her mother on Mother's Day, expressing her gratitude for being adopted by such a strong and talented woman.

In September 2021, Diane had the rare opportunity to pose with both of her children at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, where she was getting her hand and footprints immortalized.

The actress wore a black-and-white outfit and beamed with joy throughout the ceremony. It was a special moment for Diane and her children, one that they will surely cherish for years to come.

Despite keeping a low profile, Diane's children have always been a source of joy for her. In 2021, Diane's daughter Dexter became a newlywed, bringing even more happiness to the actress's life.

Dexter posted a lovely snapshot of herself with her family during the wedding ceremony. Diane appears happy and content in the photo, as does the rest of the family.

It's clear that Diane's love for her children runs deep, as she has spoken about the transformative power of motherhood and how it has completely changed her.

Despite being in her 50s when she became a mother, Diane has always approached parenthood with humility and a commitment to her principles.

She once said that becoming a mother has completely transformed her and has been the most humbling experience of her life. She also emphasized the importance of upholding one's principles while raising a child.

Diane Keaton never found a romantic partner, but she was previously involved with filmmaker Woody Allen and actor Warren Beatty, even revealing she had a big crush on actor Al Pacino. She ultimately stopped dating over 30 years ago.