Keynote: can not change one line to italic on slide

Keynote 11.1 on iMac OS 11.5.2. I am trying to change the font in one line on a slide to italic and I can not figure out how to do it. I *think* it may be a paragraph issue? Used Format-Text and then chose FreeForm paragraph style Clicked on Style and changed the font to Big Carlon, Medium, 24 pt successfully, but clicking the italic button does not change the text to italic. I have also tried using Body paragraph style, and get the same issue. I *CAN* change the text to underline or strickthrough, just not italic. There must be something really simple that I am just not getting here