In a deeply personal and moving gesture, actress Sarah Paulson has paid tribute to her late friend, the iconic Diane Keaton, on what would have been Keaton's 80th birthday. The 51-year-old Golden Globe winner revealed she has permanently inked Keaton's initials onto her wrist as a lasting memorial.
A Permanent and Poignant Memorial
On Monday, Paulson shared the intimate tribute on social media, posting a close-up image of the delicate 'DK' tattoo etched onto her skin. The post featured a slideshow that also included a silhouetted photo of the two actresses at sunset, overlooking the ocean together. Paulson accompanied the images with a heartfelt caption directed at her friend, who passed away in October at the age of 79 from pneumonia.
'You would have been 80 today,' Paulson wrote. 'Too many deep feelings to put here… I was the luckiest person in the world to have traveled, laughed so hard we cried, watched a million and one movies, really cried, and eaten French fries with you. You. You. Wondrous, singular, YOU. I will miss you till the end of time.' She specifically thanked Los Angeles tattoo artist Daniel Winter for creating what she called her 'forever reminder, of one of my forever people.'
An Outpouring of Support and Shared Grief
The emotional post was quickly met with an outpouring of love from friends and fellow stars in the comments. Actress Melanie Lynskey wrote, 'All my love to you sweetest friend,' while Rachel Zegler added, 'love you mama.' Other tributes praised the unique bond the two women shared, with one commenter calling Keaton 'the most iconic woman ever.'
This public tribute follows several months where Paulson has been openly grappling with her grief. In December, she spoke movingly about Keaton at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Gala in Beverly Hills. According to reports, Paulson read aloud several saved voicemails from Keaton, which showcased the late star's signature humour and affection, to an audience that included Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez.
A Friendship Spanning More Than Two Decades
The two actresses first met in 1999 while co-starring in the film The Other Sister, and their close friendship endured for over twenty years. Paulson has saved all of Keaton's old voicemails, which she listens to when she misses her, noting the messages were always 'really something.'
In a past interview with Interview magazine, their mutual affection was clear. Paulson once jokingly asked Keaton, 'What person, place, or thing makes your heart sing? (You can say me).' Keaton's reply was immediate and heartfelt: 'Of course, Sarah, you make my heart sing. My friends make my heart sing.'
Paulson's struggle with the loss has been visible on several occasions. In October, she became visibly emotional on the red carpet for All's Fair when asked about Keaton, telling reporters she was 'profoundly sad' before breaking down in a later interview. She described Keaton as 'even more spectacular as a human being' than she was as a performer, calling herself 'the luckiest person in the world' to have had her as a friend.
