A Study in Contrasts: The Glamorous Life and Gritty Health Fights of Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton, who has died at 79, lived a life of stark contrasts. The world saw the glamorous, award-winning actress, the fashion icon, and the muse to legendary directors. But behind that life was a gritty, relentless, and unglamorous fight for her health, as she battled both skin cancer and bulimia.
The contrast was visible in her most famous accessory. On the red carpet, her hats were a symbol of high fashion and quirky elegance. In reality, they were a practical tool in her gritty fight against skin cancer, a disease she’d had since 21 and which required multiple surgeries. The glamour was a stylish veneer over a harsh medical reality.
The contrast was even sharper in her private life. Publicly, she attended premieres and awards ceremonies, the epitome of Hollywood success. Privately, she was engaged in a brutal struggle with bulimia, an addiction that led her to secretly consume up to 20,000 calories a day in a chaotic binge.
Her path to recovery was also anything but glamorous. It wasn’t a Hollywood montage of quick success, but a long, arduous process of intensive psychotherapy, five days a week, to confront her “mental issues.”
Diane Keaton’s life story is a powerful study in contrasts. It reminds us that the polished surfaces of public life often hide deeply personal and difficult struggles. Her legacy is found in both the glamour of her career and the grit she showed in her fight to be healthy and whole.