Reese Witherspoon got emotional honoring late star Diane Keaton at her company Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event on Saturday, October 11.
Speaking to the audience, the 49-year-old actress described the late star as her first mentor, recalling the advice that the Annie Hall actress gave her while she was filming Wildflower.
“I was 15 years old, and I was from Nashville, Tenn., and I didn’t know anybody,” Reese said at the event, which took place hours after the news of Diane’s death broke.
For those unversed, Diane passed away in California on Oct. 11. She was 79.
Reese starred in the 1991 film Wildflower, which was directed by Diana.
“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?’ ” the Big Little Lies actress reflected on.
“I said, ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon and I’m from Nashville, Tenn.,’” Reese 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,” added the Fear actress.
Sharing the advice she received from Diane, the mom-of-three said that “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.’“
“I was like, ‘Okay, Ms. Keaton,’“ added Reese.
