Diane Keaton wears all the hats! #Instylemagazine

Diane Keaton doesn’t believe she’s a Legend. The universally adored actress’s individuality can be matched only by her enthusiasm for collaging, so InStyle magazine turned her into a collectible. Cut out and keep!

You styled yourself for this shoot. Is it empowering to have a certain look that you’ve been able to cultivate?
I don’t think of it as empowering.

Protective then, maybe?
Yes, it’s very protective. It hides a multitude of sins. Flaws, anxiety — things like that. I would not feel comfortable in a short skirt or something cut off with my arms hanging out there. And I’ve always liked hats. They just frame a head. But, of course, nobody really thinks they’re as great as I do. And, you know, hats also protect you from the sun — I’ve had so many skin cancers.

You have?
Oh, it’s a serious problem. Today I’m going to the doctor. I think I have one here [points to her nose]. That’s not good. I’ve had a lot of operations. So, the sun, I love it, you know? But I really have to protect my head.

I read that the hat you wore in Annie Hall [1977] was inspired by a French actress you met on set?
The truth is, it was on The Godfather [1972]. Dean Tavoularis was the [production] designer, and he was with this beautiful French girl. She had on a hat that was like something you’d see Cary Grant or one of those guys wear. It made me think, “Buy hats.” I thought, “God, that would be good. I could do that.” Which is the story of my life. “I could copy this. I could copy that.”

So, this is the Badass Issue of Instyle. Who do you think is a badass?
Bette Midler is balls to the floor. I think Lena Dunham is a badass woman. She’s brilliant. Sarah Silverman. And Gayle King is super badass.

What’s the most badass thing you’ve ever done?
I don’t really want to talk about it too much, but I got naked in a couple of movies, and that was something that just about did my father in. One was Looking for Mr. Goodbar [1977], and then the other was Nancy Meyers’s movie [Something’s Gotta Give, 2003] where I just go [naked] … and then I run away.

When do you feel the most powerful and confident?
It’s hard to say that I ever feel powerful or confident. Those two words are not really in my purview. I enjoy being engaged by imagery. That’s important for me. I have all these three-ring binders, in categories, full of images that I’ve cut out of magazines. I’m thinking about doing another book where I combine everything that I’m interested in.

Do you consider yourself a badass?
I would call myself somebody who avoids more than anything else. I’ve got that 8-foot wall [points toward the house’s gate]. It makes me feel protected, you know? Safe. I’m fearless about what I like. In other words, I’ll take it wherever I want to go. I’ve had a lot of independence, and nobody’s telling me what to do. I had a mother who encouraged that and helped me achieve the things I wanted to achieve. I’ve followed the paths I’ve wanted to follow. I like redoing houses, I like architecture, I like visuals, I like fashion, I like all of it.

What about dating? Do guys ask you out?
Never. All right? [laughs] Let’s just get that straight. That one’s important. I haven’t been on a date in, I would say, 35 years. No dates.

Do you want to be on a date?
I have a lot of male friends. I have a lot of friends, but no dates. No mwah-mwah.