Sarah Paulson Honors Diane Keaton | Text Messages Filled with Unapologetic Laughter and Insulting Love

Sarah Paulson has always been a force of nature on screen, but this week she reminded us that her power extends far beyond acting. At The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment gala, Paulson took the stage to honor her late friend Diane Keaton, who passed away in October. What she shared wasn’t a polished speech or a reel of career highlights. Instead, she opened her phone and let us glimpse the unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply human messages Keaton sent her over the years.

It was the kind of tribute Sarah Paulson delivered like the master of entertainment craft that she is. And it was the kind of legacy Keaton leaves behind for those who loved her: a trail of text messages that read like comedy sketches filled with love.

The Friendship Behind the Messages

Paulson first crossed paths with Keaton on the set of “The Other Sister” in 1999, and from that day forward the two built one of those rare Hollywood friendships that actually lasted. What started as co‑stars quickly grew into a bond that was genuine, enduring, and full of laughter. Keaton, forever etched in film history with roles in “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather,” and “The First Wives Club,” was just as unforgettable off‑screen. Among her friends she was famous not only for her brilliance, but for her razor‑sharp wit and her absolute refusal to sugarcoat a single thing.

Paulson described revisiting the texts as “being with her again.” And in sharing them publicly, she gave the audience a gift: the chance to laugh with Keaton one more time.

Diane Keaton, Unfiltered

The messages Paulson read were pure Keaton—funny, blunt, and impossible to forget.

“Sarah, I hate your phone. It is always full, and I can never leave a message. Moron, what is your address? Hurry home, sucker idiot.”

“As usual, your voicemail is full. What makes you so f***ing popular?”

“You are a numbskull.”

“Don’t ask why. Don’t ask what I did. I’m a loser from way back.”

Each line landed with the audience like a punchline, but beneath the humor was the unmistakable warmth of a friend who knew Paulson well enough to tease her relentlessly.

Sarah Paulson’s Tribute Resonated

Goldie Hawn joined Paulson on stage, calling Keaton “lightning in a bottle.” Together, they painted a portrait of a woman who was more than her filmography—she was a friend, a confidante, and a comedian in her own right.

Paulson’s decision to honor Keaton through their text exchanges felt exactly right. Those messages revealed Keaton as she truly was—irreverent, razor‑sharp, and unapologetically herself. And in choosing to share them, Paulson reminded us why she’s so adored: she doesn’t flatten her friends into polished legends, she lifts them up by spotlighting the quirks and the humor that made them unforgettable.

Why Tributes Like This Matter

Tributes like this remind us that legacies aren’t just built on awards or box office numbers. They’re built on the small, everyday exchanges that reveal who someone really was.

By sharing these personal texts, Paulson gave us a glimpse of the Diane she knew on the daily: funny and fearless. And in doing so, she reminded us that grief can always be softened by laughter. That love lives on in the most unexpected places —like a voicemail full of insults and name calling. With love, that is.

It’s Diane, One of Your Friends ♥

Sarah Paulson didn’t just honor Diane Keaton; she let us all sit in on their friendship. She let us laugh at Keaton’s words, feel the sting of her loss, and remember the joy of having someone in your life who never lets you off the hook.

It was a fan‑girl moment, yes, but also a masterclass in how to honor someone you love: by letting them speak for themselves, even if what they’re saying is “You are a numbskull.”