Keaton, who portrayed Kay Adams-Corleone, the wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone, recalled, “I think the kindest thing that someone’s ever done for me… is that I got cast to be in The Godfather and I didn’t even read it. I didn’t know a single thing,” she told PEOPLE. “I just was going around auditioning. I think that was amazing for me. And then I had to kind of read the book.”
Reflecting on her early career, Keaton emphasized her determination to secure work, stating, “I needed to get work.” Her audition led to a pivotal chemistry reading with Al Pacino, a session that ultimately convinced the studio to cast him as Michael Corleone. Keaton noted, “So he brought Al Pacino in and we did it together and for some reason that helped them cast him. Can you imagine if [they] hadn’t cast him?”
The actress expressed gratitude for the unexpected opportunities that shaped her career, adding, “So a lot of these experiences that you have come and you’re just surprised, like today, this was a surprise. This is [a] complete, utter surprise to me.”
Keaton’s portrayal of Kay Adams-Corleone became one of her most iconic roles, leading to her reprising the character in The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990). Her performance remains a testament to her talent and the serendipitous nature of Hollywood casting.
“It was just one of those things in your life where you just don’t expect it and then suddenly it comes your way. And then it’s like, wow,” Keaton said of the ceremony. “I was thrilled, of course. And I still am. And to be here today is also great because I’m not frequently inside this theater and I love this theater.”
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