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Kimberly Williams-Paisley opened up about working with Diane Keaton on Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II
Williams-Paisley said that it was her first major role, and she had anxiety-induced nightmares
She remembered Keaton helping her unpack her fears
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is remembering how her Father of the Bride costar Diane Keaton showed up for her as a young actress.
Williams-Paisley remembered her late costar on the Friday, Oct. 24 episode of Call It What It Is, hosted by Grey’s Anatomy stars Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington. Keaton died on Oct. 11 at the age of 79.
Williams-Paisley starred in 1991’s Father of the Bride as Annie Banks, the daughter of Keaton’s Nina and Steve Martin’s George. Kieran Culkin played her younger brother Kieran Culkin and George Newbern played her fiancé Bryan MacKenzie.
Williams-Paisley said Keaton was one of her “idols” before they worked together and “she more than lived up to it.”
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From left: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams- Paisley in ‘Father of the Bride Part 2’
“She was just so generous, and so funny, and wise. Just like wonderful,” she said. She added that they “really bonded” and “just laughed” on the second film, 1995’s Father of the Bride Part II, where both Nina and Annie are pregnant. “The humor clicked, and it was so fun to be on set when she was on set,” she said.
The hosts asked if there was anything Keaton specifically taught her. “I remember I had a lot of anxiety during those two movies,” Williams-Paisley remembered. “I mean, I was 19 on the first one. It was the first major role I had. And Diane was like a mother figure to me who was very safe. I talked to her about my anxiety.”
Williams-Paisley said her anxiety started to effect her sleep. “I had a lot of dreams. I’m a big dreamer, literally, but I would have like weird nightmares. I think it was like me working out my anxiety in the middle of the night, and she would analyze dreams with me.” She called Keaton a “kind listening ear,” and Williams-Paisley guessed that anxiety was something Keaton dealt with too.
“She didn’t have easy answers,” the 9-1-1: Nashville star said, but the actress was comforted by Keaton’s “lived experience” that she shared. “Sometimes it just helps to talk to someone who’s been through it too, you know?”
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From left: Diane Keaton, Martin Short and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in ‘Father of the Bride Part 2’
The actress also shared the two keepsakes she took from her time on Father of the Bride. “I actually took a gift from Diane,” she said, clarifying that it wasn’t a prop in the movie, but a small lapel pin that Keaton got her.
She also took one of the basketballs from the movie’s basketball scene, but was “embarrassed” to admit she wasn’t sure if she still had it.
The cast of Father of the Bride — which also included Martin Short — reunited for a third time for Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish), which aired on Netflix in 2020.
After Keaton’s death, Williams-Paisley spoke to PEOPLE about the loss of the Oscar-winning actress. “It’s really one of the best memories I’ll ever have in my life, getting to work with Diane,” the 54-year-old actress says. She remembered flying to Los Angeles for her screen test and walking to the soundstage to read with Martin and Keaton. But it was so bright out she couldn’t see at first.
“And then I remember hearing Diane laugh, and of course I knew who she was,” she said. “I was such a huge fan growing up. I’d seen Annie Hall, I’d seen The Godfather, I’d seen Baby Boom. And just the idea that I was going to be in her presence was — that’s what I was most nervous about, but it was just, wow, Diane Keaton.”
She explained, “To hear her laughter before anything, before even meeting her, was just such a great omen. It was an auspicious beginning to a great relationship.”
Read the original article on People