Q SO what about the sex scene? In the last three movies we have seen you in, you were either in bed or naked. Did you ever think you would get to that point in your career or you would get those sort of roles?

A NO. I never did. When Nancy Meyers asked me to play that part in Something's Gotta Give and she told me that Jack Nicholson was in it, I sat there and thought: 'OK I will listen to her because this is never going to happen. She is never going to get the money for this movie, she is never going to get Jack Nicholson,' but she did. And because of that, I get opportunities like this.

Q IN the film your character searches the internet and finds porn. Does the internet concern you? Have you ever searched the internet and entered a site and all of a sudden porn pops up?

A WHAT I am concerned about is sharing your information. I mean I don't think it is a great thing to run into a porn site if you are a 10-year-old kid, but it is not as bad as if you were a 10 or 12-year-old and you are giving your name to a stranger online and then you go and meet him or her. I mean that is bone chilling.

Q WHAT do you think of Hollywood's fascination with youth and how Sharon Stone and Demi Moore are trying to look younger?

A I DON'T think that Sharon Stone is playing younger roles. I think she is playing roles for a woman her age and she is fantastic.

As far as Demi Moore goes, she did a great job in Bobby with that drunk. That was just great acting. When I watched it, I wished her part could have been bigger, because she was really good and she was playing her age.

She didn't look like she was playing someone younger. She just looked beautiful. But everybody finds their way. I don't care as long as they can hang in.

Q YOU won a Best Actress Oscar for Annie Hall. Who is your hot tip for this year's award?

A I think that Helen Mirren owns it this year.

Q In Because I Said So, you play an overprotective mother who’s so worried about her daughter’s misfortunes in love, she places a personal ad on her behalf. As wacky as she is, do you think audiences can identify with her?

A Oh yes! It kills her that her daughter’s romantic life is such a failure. She feels she is the most vulnerable of all her kids and could easily take a hit if she is not careful. Who doesn’t identify with that?! Many times, all of us have to go through that failure. In my case, you just fail —permanently fail — in romance.

Q Was your mother overprotective with you and your potential dates?

A My mother wasn’t like that, but I do remember friends having meddling mothers and I thought, God how weird is that! But apparently they’re all over the place.

Q In the movie, there are many very frank discussions between mother and daughter about sex. Are you comfortable with these discussions in real life?

A I can talk about anything to anyone at any time—I have been in analysis for 30 years! I didn’t think it was that unusual. Language is a saving grace.

Q In one scene, you’re in your underwear. Were you tempted to use a body double

A No! At this point, it doesn’t matter. Who cares!

Q At 60, your character feels like life is over, though she does end up encountering a romantic interest. Do you think moviegoers are hungry for stories of people over 50 finding love?

A Once in a while they allow people to do that, but I don’t think people are really interested in watching it unless it is really funny, like if Jack Nicholson is in it. I don’t think people are thinking, “Gee, I can’t wait until I see a romantic film with Diane Keaton. Fabulous, pencil me in, I’ll be there.”

Q Do you think you are going to be nervous when your kids reach dating age?

A When I was playing her, I was thinking, Well, I’m sure I’m not like this as a mother. But then when you look at it from your daughter or son’s point of view, I thought, Well maybe I am! Being a parent is really a humbling experience. You have to be honest with your own performance. It’s hard to guide a person’s life—the worry, the concern consumes you. We have a tendency to want to guide them too much.