Only a handful of leading ladies in Hollywood have had as many high-profile on-screen romances as the iconic Diane Keaton. She rose to fame playing Al Pacino’s wife in ‘The Godfather,’ quickly following it up with Woody Allen in ‘Annie Hall.’ She then went on to share the screen with everyone from Steve Martin to Warren Beatty.
But looking back at one of her biggest movies from the 2000s, it turns out the secret behind her sizzling chemistry with another Hollywood legend wasn’t as easy as it looked. Despite how effortless they made it seem on camera, the actual shoot left both stars completely shaken.
The Truth Behind Diane Keaton’s Perfect Chemistry With Jack Nicholson
In 2003, Keaton starred in the romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson. It follows Erica Barry, a middle-aged playwright whose daughter starts to date an older man named Harry, played by Nicholson.
Related: ‘The Family Stone’ Sequel In The Works To Honor Diane Keaton’s Memory
Because of that, the entire family ends up spending some time together on the same beach property. At the end of the movie, Erica convinces Harry to break his rule of only dating women younger than 30.
‘Something’s Gotta Give’ earned a fanbase for its unique portrayal of a romantic relationship between two older people. After all, such a dynamic was quite rare and somewhat taboo when this film was created.
Moreover, the steamy scenes between Erica and Harry made Keaton feel embarrassed. After the movie’s release, she admitted in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that the two had to overcome their embarrassment to do their jobs well.
“Jack and I were humiliated most of the time,” Keaton admitted. “There was so much kissing and all this time in bed. We felt so much terror about being so exposed, and we got to be so close because of that.”
So basically, their embarrassment forced them to lower their defenses, resulting in a very realistic performance full of emotion. Meanwhile, fans did not expect Nicholson to star in a movie with such a rare plotline. But to some, it wasn’t very surprising because of his high-profile, complicated love life.
Nicholson’s Love Life And Movie’s Success Fanned Relationship Rumors
For a long time, Nicholson had been dating Angelica Huston, who was 14 years younger than him. He also has two children with Rebecca Broussard, who was 26 years younger than him. But that’s not all.
In Case You Missed It: 10 Devastating Romance Movies That Will Break Your Heart
The actor was dating Lara Flynn Boyle, who was 29 when Nicholson was 62. You can say that he was destined to take on the role. Keaton and Nicholson were so perfect in this movie that one tabloid newspaper started saying that they were seeing each other in real life.
However, the actress was quick to brush off such claims. “Jack and I would never get together like that,” she said. “I can’t see Jack going out with someone in their 50s. Also, we are both too set in our ways, and he’s too huge, a myth, a legend. There’s no way.”
While their amazing on-screen equation didn’t translate into an actual affair, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ turned out to be quite a successful project for both actors. Nicholson earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role and spoke positively about working on the film.
As for Diane Keaton, the movie helped her receive her fourth and last Oscar nomination for acting. The actress even mentioned that it is one of her favorite movies ever.
You Might Also Like To Read: Tom Holland Didn’t Expect This Co-Star To Be His Biggest Challenge On ‘The Odyssey’ Set
