The world mourned when iconic Hollywood star Diane Keaton died earlier this month. The actress was much-loved by many cinephiles and starred in some of the biggest movies across several decades. Diane had a distinct, relatable charm that was quirky and idiosyncratic, which endeared her to many film buffs over the years.

It is no surprise that she was a muse to so many greats, from Nancy Meyers to Woody Allen. Critics often described her as self-deprecating, as if it were a choice, but she was someone who battled eating disorders and never seemed to give herself enough credit for her successes.

But she was also able to channel that emotion into her performances spanning five decades. According to Associated Press News, there were so many Keaton films worth noting, including her full run with Woody Allen.

There are the Instagram favorites like The First Wives Club (available to rent on Sky), nostalgic classics like Father of the Bride (streaming on Hulu), and dramatic other films such as Marvin’s Room (streaming on Kanopy), and Shoot the Moon (available to rent on Prime Video). Here are five of her essential roles to get you started.

The Godfather (1972)

This film needs no introduction, starring legends such as Al Pacino and Marlon Brando.

Diane played Kay Adams, the future Mrs Corleone, in what could have been a comfortable part to just sit in and play easily. But Keaton, in her breakout role, held the screen next to her flashier counterparts who had been in many more movies than her at the time.

In 2023, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and Keaton had an exchange on an Instagram story “ask me anything” session. She wondered why he’d picked her.

“I chose you, because although you were to play the more straight, vanilla wife, there was something more about you, deeper, funnier, and very interesting. I was right,” Coppola wrote in his response.

The film is available to rent on various platforms, including Prime Video.

Annie Hall (1977)

The film is regarded as the quintessential Keaton role, a love letter to her quirks and charm – all wrapped up in this fictional tie-wearing WASP from Chippewa Falls. Woody Allen encouraged her to wear whatever she wanted, and this grew into her iconic outfit, which she personally put together to become a cool-looking woman from the New York Streets. Diane even lifted the screen-stealing hat from actor Aurore Clement as she threw the ensemble together.

In her memoir, Diane wrote: “No one had any serious expectations. We were just having a good time moving through New York’s landmark locations.”

The film is currently streaming on Fubo TV.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

By now, Diane had starred in several roles, and this film gradually rose to cult classic status as it wasn’t released on home video or DVD and has only recently been made available on digital platforms. The part of Theresa Dunn makes Annie Hall look like a nun as Diane brings an edge to the screen.

With her Catholic upbringing and “good girl” job teaching deaf children by day, at night, Theresa cruises bars looking for men to hook up with — and she takes a liking to a character played by Richard Gere.

The movie is currently available to rent on various platforms.

Baby Boom (1987)

This comedy from Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers saw Diane play a Manhattan yuppie who unexpectedly inherits a 14-month-old. The development has her begin to reassess her life, and she eventually relocates to Vermont, where she meets a veterinarian played by the handsome Sam Shepard.

The film is seen as ahead-of-its-time commentary on the have-it-all discourse that would move to the forefront of the next 30 years.

Renowned film critic Roger Ebert wrote at the time that: “Baby Boom makes no effort to show us real life. It is a fantasy about mothers and babies and sweetness and love, with just enough wicked comedy to give it an edge.”

The film is now available to rent on various platforms.

Something’s Gotta Give (2003)

The film is credited as the brainchild of Meyers, the writer-director who had the glorious idea to make a 50-something woman the object of desire in a mainstream romantic comedy.

Diane managed to pull it off as she played a brilliant playwright who catches the eye of both an ageing ladies’ man (Jack Nicholson) with a proclivity for much younger women and a young, handsome doctor (Keanu Reeves).

Keaton has called it her favorite movie, primarially “because it was so unexpected at age 57”.

This classic is now available to rent on various platforms.