Why Diane Lane Was ‘Overwhelmed’ on ‘The Outsiders’ Set

Actress Diane Lane is opening up about her experience working on the 1983 film, The Outsiders.

Entertainment Weekly reported that Lane discussed starring as Cherry Valance in the belovedFrancis Ford Coppola film, based onS.E. Hilton‘s 1967 young adult novel, during the October 29 episode of Drew Barrymore‘s talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. During the interview, Barrymore noted that several popular actors were featured in the film, including Tom Cruise,Rob Lowe,Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, and Patrick Swayze.

“What was it like to be with literally every single young man who would become the biggest male movie stars?” inquired Barrymore.

“It was hot! It was great,” responded Lane with a laugh.

She noted, however, that she was one of the only actresses working on the film.

“It was kind of too much testosterone for one girl. So I kept to myself. But I was definitely pinching myself. I was definitely overwhelmed,” said Lane in the interview.

Diane Lane & Ralph Macchio Said Francis Ford Coppola Wanted Actors in ‘The Outsiders’ to Feel Their Characters’ Social Divide

In a 2017 interview on Andy Cohen Live, hosted by Andy Cohen, Lane confirmed that Coppola wanted the Outsiders actors to feel the characters’ social divide. As fans of the book and film are aware, the main protagonists, Ponyboy Curtis (Howell) and Johnny Cade (Macchio), are Greasers with little resources. Meanwhile, Cherry, her boyfriend, Bob Sheldon (Leif Garrett), and their friends are Socials, also known as Socs, who have more means.

While speaking to Cohen, Lane said that the actors who played Socs got a higher “daily stipend” than those who portrayed the Greasers. Lane suggested that this help create genuine animosity between the groups.

Macchio made similar comments in a July 2024 interview with LIVE with Kelly and Mark. The Karate Kid actor explained that Coppola had come “from a theater background and did a lot of theater study,” so he liked “creating environments” with reality. He said because the Greasers had “less” than the Socs in The Outsiders, he and his fellow Greaser actors were given rooms on lower hotel floors and scripts “with a ring clasp.” The Socs actors, however, were given “leatherbound scripts” and hotel rooms “on the top floors.”

Macchio also said that Coppola would “give [him] tasks” to help him better understand Johnny, who has a less-than-stable family life. He said one task was to try to live off $5 for a day. Macchio said he appreciated the assignment, as it helped him as an actor.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.