Diane Lane on Hollywood, Iconic Costars, and Her Most Meaningful Performances

Screen beauty Diane Lane was 13 days old when her acting coach dad and Playboy centerfold mom split up — and her own life has been just as tumultuous … except for her onscreen roles! “Relationships with the opposite sex are the most challenging things I’ve done,” Diane reveals. Here are her 10 favorite roles and what the 60-year-old actress says they mean to her.

A Little Romance (1979)

At age 13, “I was so amazed — I’m going to be in a movie!” Costar Laurence Olivier “called me the new Grace Kelly, and it was wonderful. Working with somebody of that caliber, and how it raises the standards of everyone, I had no idea how good I had it. I thought it was always going to be that professional.”

The Outsiders (1983)

With Matt Dillon and male costars: “We were this weird blend of hyper-insecure, hyper-overconfident, which is totally age appropriate. It was fun to be the only girl surrounded by all that testosterone — every woman needs to experience that once in her life.”

Lonesome Dove (1989)

Working with Robert Duvall, “It was nice to feel a part of the chemistry he created. Honestly, he cast a spell as Gus. He was basically in character the whole time, which I didn’t realize until we went to promote it. I felt like I had met Bobbie for the first time. ‘Who are you and what have you done with Gus?’ ”

A Streetcar Named Desire (1995)

Of Alec Baldwin: “He was my Stanley, and I was his Stella. I had to fight being distracted. Being off-camera and watching him and Jessica Lange, it was great. I would have to close my mouth and remember I had a line coming!”

My Dog Skip (2000)

“You feel you are doing a good deed to look after all God’s little creatures. That brings out a sense of goodness in people and makes them feel good about themselves. I also think pets can feel how we feel. They reflect us totally.”

Unfaithful (2002)

On Richard Gere, her costar here and in “The Cotton Club” and “Nights in Rodanthe” — “It’s wonderful to have that comfort level. To trust each other’s boundaries and not to be walking on eggshells.”

Cinema Verite (2011)

The Loud family “was the first domino falling. I call them the first family of reality television, the first piñata. They offered themselves up not knowing what to expect from the piranhas in the fishbowl with you.”

Man of Steel (2013)

Playing the mom of Henry Cavill’s Superman, “I grew up watching Wonder Woman, Batman, George Reeves as Superman. I qualify. I’ve always wanted to raise a good man. I thought that was the biggest challenge a woman could have.”

The Cherry Orchard (2016)

Diane made her Broadway debut in the play in 1977, and relished a return to play matriarch Madame Ranevskaya, even though it brought up memories of her own recently deceased mom. “The longer we live, we get to look over our shoulder and see how few coincidences there really are.”

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024)

Diane is not looking at TV for the long term: “So far, I haven’t been caught by that butterfly catcher. I’m fluttering around enjoying shorter romances. Sometimes these roles become so iconic on television. It’s fun and fascinating, but I don’t know that I really envy it.”