Top 5: Diane Lane

5) Secretariat (2010)

Lane shines as housewife and mother Penny Chenery who agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery — with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin — manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in twenty-five years.

4) The Perfect Storm (2000)

In October 1991, a confluence of weather conditions combined to form a killer storm in the North Atlantic. Caught in the storm was the sword-fishing boat Andrea Gail. Magnificent foreshadowing and anticipation fill this true-life drama while minute details of the fishing boats, their gear and the weather are juxtaposed with the sea adventure. Lane plays Christina Cotter, girlfriend of Bobby Shatford.

3) A Walk On The Moon (1999)

Summer, 1969: men on the moon, and Woodstock happening near the cabin where the Kantrowitz family stays every summer. The camp’s a Jewish fish-bowl. Marty’s there weekends; he repairs TVs in Brooklyn. He’s square and decent. His wife Pearl (Diane Lane) and his mother camp with Alison (she’s 14) and their younger son. Pearl got pregnant at 17 and feels she missed her youth. While Alison experiences her first date, first kiss, first period, and stealing off to Woodstock with the lifeguard, Pearl has her own sexual awakening with “the blouse man,” a peddler who sells at the camp. They too go to Woodstock. Marty confronts Pearl about the affair; she and he have to decide what to do next.

2) A Little Romance (1979)

A French boy (Daniel) and an American girl (Lauren), who goes to school in Paris, meet and begin a little romance. They befriend Julius who enchants them with his story telling. In an attempt to solidify the teens’ love forever, the three journey to Venice.

Actor Laurence Olivier was 71 years of age when he made this film. Olivier made the picture whilst was recovering from thrombosis and pneumonia. Reportedly, Olivier once said that his teenage co-star in this film Diane Lane was “the next Grace Kelly”.

1) Unfaithful (2002)

Connie Sumner has a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a wonderful son, but she wants more. When she’s approached one day by a handsome stranger while trying to hail a taxi, she becomes obsessed with him and eventually starts an affair. But her selfish actions soon catch up with her…

Although the film gained a lot of poor reviews on release, Lane was praised her performance as a housewife who indulges in an adulterous fling with a mysterious book dealer. She earned her only (To date) Oscar nomination for her role as Connie Sumner.

Diane Lane Trivia

Turned down co-starring role in Risky Business (1983).
Has starred with Richard Gere in 3 movies to date: The Cotton Club (1984); Unfaithful (2002); and Nights in Rodanthe (2008).
One of the “later” members of the Brat Pack, along with John Cusack.
One of Francis Ford Coppola’s favorite actresses – she has starred in no less than four of his films.
Divorced from Josh Brolin February 2013