Persona vs. Personality: The Case of Diane Keaton
Let’s remember that the way someone comes across in public is not necessarily their true self. Case in point: Diane Keaton.
When I read obituaries and tributes after actress Diane Keaton died in October, I was surprised to see how many people confused how she came across on screen with how she really was as a person. In films and in interviews, she appeared to have an effervescent, outgoing, high-energy personality. That was an act – a very skilled, consistent act. When she was relaxed and herself, off screen, she was definitely an introvert.
For actors and entertainers particularly, it’s vital to distinguish between persona and personality, between someone’s purposeful, deliberate image and their preferences, interests and emotions when they are not trying to create an impression. Keaton was far from alone in having an extroverted persona and an introverted personality.
A gifted performer, Keaton excelled at portraying chatty, playful and emotionally expressive characters, such as Annie Hall in the movie of that name. Her quirky, attention-grabbing outfits equally attracted admiration. On talk shows, she flirted charmingly with hosts and delivered comic improvisations. In public she played the role of a gregarious, socially smooth woman – someone theatrical, outgoing and even somewhat exhibitionist.
Apart from that extroverted style, the content of what she said about herself in interviews and in three book-length memoirs revealed her to be a solitude-loving, party-shunning, introspective, somewhat socially awkward homebody. Acting was a protective way to hide as someone else, she said. She could flood a set with charm, but in an unstructured social situation, she felt uncomfortable and not spontaneous at all. In short, she was at heart a fairly typical introvert.
Here are some quotes from her 2011 and 2014 memoirs that illustrate the offstage, introverted Diane Keaton:
“I like being alone. It feels like home.”
“Parties terrify me – I never know what to say or who to be.”
“I’ve never been comfortable in rooms full of people who insist on talking.”
“I spent most of my life looking for a place to hide. Acting was the place where I didn’t have to be me.”
“Attention has always embarrassed me.”
“I could spend days in my own head.”
“What I love is quiet. What I love is retreat.”
Other well-known performers who fit this pattern of an extroverted persona and an introverted personality include:
1. Robin Williams. Despite his rapid-fire improvisations and over-the-top energy, people who knew him well described him as introspective, serious and easily overwhelmed by crowds.
2. Audrey Hepburn In movies, she displayed refined elegance, sociability and charm, but off the set she preferred to be at home with large doses of restful solitude.
3. Meg Ryan. Although many of her movie roles featured her as a bubbly, socially confident and expressive woman, she actually dislikes fame, avoids over-stimulating settings and has a deep need for privacy.
4. Steve Martin. As a comedian, he cultivated a wild and crazy style. However, he describes himself as socially awkward and introverted.
So, don’t be fooled. Some people put on such a great act that you confuse the act with their private self. Persona does not always match personality.