American actress Diane Lane was born on January 22, 1965 in Manhattan. The girl grew up in a creative family. Her father, Burton Eugene Lane, was a teacher (acting lessons) and her mother, Colleen Leigh Farrington, was a photojournalist, model and singer in nightclubs. Diane Lane’s parents were from Georgia. From an early age, Diane absorbed all the nuances of acting. Thus, it is not surprising that her stage debut took place at the age of six. Participation in such theater performances as Medea and The Cherry Orchard laid the foundation for a brilliant future career in Hollywood. Read more on manhattanka.
The beginning of the career and retirement at the age of 19
In 1979, Diane Lane took part in the filming of A Little Romance directed by George Roy Hill. The actress played the character of Lauren King. She worked on the same set with the outstanding and most sought-after actor of the 20th century, Sir Laurence Olivier. The film was not a commercial success but Diane Lane received praise from her co-star, who called her the new Grace Kelly. After a successful debut, the young actress graced the covers of glossy publications around the world. Time magazine called her the new young acting sensation.
However, after a stunning rise, several unsuccessful roles in television and films began: Touched by Love (1980), Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1980), National Lampoon’s Movie Madness (1982), Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982) and Six Pack (1982). All the listed projects were not financially successful and were criticized a lot. They could end the career of Diane Lane, who decided to leave acting for three years. Even Francis Ford Coppola’s offer to participate in his films The Outsiders (1983) and Rumble Fish (1983) did not make her change her decision to leave the film industry. She responded positively and added these projects to her filmography of the early 1980s. Participation in these two projects brought Diane many loyal fans. The famous director took note of the attractiveness of the actress and invited Lane to take part in the filming of youth films based on the novel by S. E. Hinton, which became a cult classic.
Cooperation with Coppola brought close attention to the actress and soon she received an offer to play the main role in three big-budget films. The actress refused the role in the film Splash (1984). It brought unexpected popularity to the actress Daryl Christine Hannah, who agreed to take part in this project. Unfortunately, the other two films were not successful at the box office and were received very critically by the public. The 1984 film Streets of Fire directed by Walter Hill (Lane played Ellen Aim) was not a huge success, despite the expectations. The role in the film The Cotton Club with Richard Gere in the main role caused a lot of problems. In addition, the premiere ended with a resounding failure.
At the age of 19, Diane Lane decided to end her film career. This decision was influenced by the abundant criticism of recent films with the participation of the actress, as well as Diane’s misunderstanding of the development of her career and the main idea for which she was acting in movies. However, three years after she retired from the film industry, movies with her participation have started to gain popularity. This was especially true for Streets of Fire. The film gained an audience that it could not gather after the premiere.
Diane Lane’s gradual return to acting
Diane Lane’s return to acting has been rather slow and gradual. Her first work after a short break was the thriller Lady, Beware (1987), which did not bring much interest to cinema lovers. Then, there was the movie The Big Town (1987), which received many favorable reviews among film critics. Diane Lane co-starred with Matt Dillon and Tommy Lee Jones in this film. In the first movie, the actress left an unforgettable impression with her strip dance, as well as mystery and sexuality throughout the story. Diane also impressed a wide audience with her sexy image in the mini-series Lonesome Dove (1989). The series was a great success and Diane Lane’s acting brought her many positive reviews from critics and an Emmy nomination.
Famous producers and directors became interested in her again. She starred in the film Descending Angel (1990), which also acclaimed by critics and the public. This was followed by small roles in such films as Chaplin (1992) and Indian Summer (1993). In addition, larger roles in My New Gun (1992), Vital Signs (1990) and Knight Moves (1992) followed. In the last two films, Diane worked on the set with her husband, Christopher Lambert. They had a daughter, Eleanor.
The last few years of work in the cinema have finally fixed Diane’s life. She settled in Hollywood and began to act in higher-paid and budget films. The filmography of the actress was replenished with the following works: Wild Bill (1995), Judge Dredd (1995), Jack (1996) and Murder at 1600 (1997). However, all these roles have not yet brought Diane Lane recognition. In 1997, Diane decided to participate in minor projects and agreed to play the role of a disillusioned housewife.
The role in the film A Walk on the Moon (1999) brought the actress a long-awaited rise in her career. The project received favorable reviews from the public. Then, there was a role in the comedy My Dog Skip (2000), which also was successful.
The role in The Perfect Storm (2000) brought in 330 million pounds at the box office and the name of the actress became famous. After this success, she played a drug addict guardian in the thriller The Glass House (2001) and co-starred with Keanu Reeves in the hit Hard Ball (2001). The role in the film Unfaithful brought the actress a rise in her career. This movie was a phenomenal commercial success. In addition to critical acclaim for her role, Diane was nominated for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award (Best Actress). Later, Diane was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her roles in Under the Tuscan Sun and Cinema Verite.
The actress was loved by cinema fans and highly valued in the film industry. Diane Lane has won a high reputation for the quality of her work and her talent for playing screen and real-life characters.
Private life
Diane Lane was married twice. Both marriages ended with divorce. Her first husband was Christopher Lambert. The couple was together for five years and had a daughter, Eleanor Jasmine Lambert (in September 1993). Diane became a wife of the actor Josh Brolin in 2004. The couple divorced in 2013.
Interesting facts about the actress
- Diane Lane became a multimillionaire at the age of 18
- Tom Cruise offered the actress to play in the film Risky Business, which she refused due to the possible reaction of her father, who would never allow her to play the role of a prostitute
- In 1980, she was hit in the eye with a tennis ball. As a result, Diane had an irreversible dilation of the eyes.