Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Allen Berezovsky/Getty
Diane Keatonis looking back on the making ofThe Godfather.
During herHand & Footprint Ceremonyat Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre on Thursday, theMack & Ritastar, 76, recalled to PEOPLE thatAl Pacino, 82, was not an obvious choice before being cast in his iconic role as Michael Corleone inThe Godfather.
“The studio didn’t want Al Pacino at all,” Keaton said, noting that she was cast before him in theFrancis Ford Coppolaclassic. She then explained what caused the studio to change their opinion: their chemistry read. “So he brought Al Pacino in and we did it together and for some reason that helped them cast him,” Keaton said.
“Can you imagine if you hadn’t cast him? So a lot of these experiences that you have come and you’re just surprised, like today, this was a surprise. This is [a] complete, utter surprise to me,” the Academy Award winner added.
Also in the talk with PEOPLE, Keatonadmittedthat she auditioned forThe Godfatherwithout “having ever read” the book on which the movie was based.
“I think the kindest thing that someone’s ever done for me … is that I got cast to be inThe Godfatherand I didn’t even read it. I didn’t know a single thing,” Keaton recalled. “I just was going around auditioning. I think that was amazing for me. And then I had to kind of read the book.”
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Keaton played Kay Adams-Corleone, the wife of Pacino’s character in the 1972 film adaptation ofMario Puzo’s novel, later reprising the role in the 1974 and 1990 sequels.
“I think about how lucky I am. That’s what I think. And the way I think about things, like I auditioned forThe Godfather, not having ever readThe Godfatheror caring aboutThe Godfatheror anything, because all I was doing was auditioning. I needed to get work,” she explained, reminiscing about her career.
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“It was just one of those things in your life where you just don’t expect it and then suddenly it comes your way. And then it’s like, wow,” Keaton said of the ceremony. “I was thrilled, of course. And I still am. And to be here today is also great because I’m not frequently inside this theater and I love this theater.”
Keaton’s latest movieMack & Ritais currently in theaters.
source: people.com
