Jane Fonda

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Jane Fonda
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Name:
Jane Fonda
Real name:
Jane Seymour Fonda
Who is:
, social activist
Birth date:
(86 y.o.)
Place of birth:
New York
Height:
5'8 ft ()
Weight:
128 lb (58 kg)
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda Photo 1
Jane Fonda Photo 2
Jane Fonda Photo 3
Jane Fonda Photo 4
+12 Photos

Biography of Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda, one of the paramount actresses of the 20th century, boasts a staggering list of over 200 film roles. Despite the breadth of her repertoire, one always wonders what astonishing feat she might accomplish next. Fonda's influence extends far beyond the silver screen; her fitness and self-care programs have garnered the allegiance of countless women worldwide. During the tumultuous 1960s, she demonstrated unparalleled audacity by confronting the militant policies of the United States' Republican Party, earning her adoration and recognition even in the USSR.
Actress Jane Fonda
Actress Jane Fonda

Childhood

On December 21, 1937, Henry Fonda and his wife Frances welcomed their first child, Jane Seymour Fonda. Family legend has it that the blood of Lady Jane Seymour, wife of the British monarch Henry VIII, flowed in her veins, a lineage honored by bestowing her with the same name.
Jane Fonda (left) and her family
Jane Fonda (left) and her family
In the ensuing years, young Jane's family grew with the addition of her brother, Peter. Her father rose to Hollywood prominence, while her mother began to exhibit the initial signs of bipolar disorder.
Jane Fonda with her father
Jane Fonda with her father
Fonda feels that her character strongly reflects her father's traits rather than her mother's. She has described Henry as an "actor with a Spartan upbringing," while she viewed her mother as a pampered socialite, immersed in the luxuries of high society. Henry relished Harlem's smoky jazz clubs, while Frances preferred the exclusive luncheons with the Manhattan elite.
I resemble him, I chose his craft, like him, I value honesty and assertiveness in people.
Jane and her brother Peter were forced into premature maturity, largely left to their own devices as their father was constantly immersed in his film projects, and their mother oscillated between bouts of depression and indulgence in high-society revelry. When Jane turned 11, her parents divorced. A year later, her mother tragically passed away from what her father described as a heart attack. Only years later did Jane discover the bitter truth: Frances had taken her own life in a psychiatric hospital.
Jane Fonda in her childhood
Jane Fonda in her childhood
While Henry Fonda was a remarkable father, societal pressures in the 1950s imposed relentless standards of beauty upon women. Little Jane was incessantly reminded by her father: "People care only about your appearance." In the relentless pursuit of the ideal physique, the young teenager started to starve herself, leading to the onset of bulimia.

At the age of 16, during a visit to Henry Fonda's villa, the renowned actress Greta Garbo made an appearance. Garbo invited Jane to swim, neglecting to wear a swimsuit. As Jane observed the famed actress's body, she realized that despite not being flawless, it was beautiful in its own robust way. This revelation significantly altered Jane's perception of beauty. She understood that true allure resided in a healthy, muscular body, not a starved, tormented one. However, she only managed to overcome the aftermath of bulimia at the age of 36.
Jane Fonda in her youth
Jane Fonda in her youth
Jane perpetually felt a sense of solitude; to fill the void in her heart, she sought solace in sports, dancing, and voracious reading when alone. After transitioning through several prestigious boarding schools, Jane barely managed to complete her education. After spending a few months in Paris, she returned to America.

The Great Story. Career

In New York, she decided to master the art of acting. Not wanting to ask her father for financial assistance, she worked as a model, gracing the cover of Vogue at just 18 years old.
Jane Fonda started out as a model
Jane Fonda started out as a model
At the age of 20, out of sheer curiosity, she enrolled in Lee Strasberg's acting classes. The maestro of stage art recognized the budding talent in Jane after her first enacted study.
Jane Fonda On Her New Documentary, The Men In Her Life & More
In 1959, she participated in a Broadway production titled "There Was a Little Girl". Her father did not share in Jane's joy over her first success, but he did arrange for a friend to invite Jane for a role in his upcoming movie.

The comedy film "Tall Story" was released in 1960, co-starring a young but already famous Anthony Perkins. However, the film is historically notable only for Jane's first film role. Following this, she appeared in a few movies playing delightful, charming characters which nonetheless brought her significant popularity.
Jane Fonda in the movie 'Tall Story'
Jane Fonda in the movie 'Tall Story'
In 1963, the stunningly beautiful on-screen duo of Jane Fonda and Alain Delon in Rene Clément's "Joy House" made waves both in Europe and US, and introduced Jane to director Roger Vadim. The ingenious director cast Jane in several of his films. Jane played the role of an extraterrestrial beauty in the sci-fi comedy "Barbarella" (1968), by which time she had become Vadim's wife. e{"type":"image","src":"images/content/2023/4/jane-fonda-and-alain-delon_80.jpg","title":"Jane Fonda and Alain Delon"} The image of a sexy beauty became a trademark for Jane, but the actress soon became bored and even irritated with it, just like her marriage. The relationship became burdensome, and the unexpressed potential of a dramatic actress required manifestation on the screen. Hence, she enthusiastically accepted Sidney Pollack's invitation to star in the drama "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?".
Jane Fonda in the role of Barbarella
Jane Fonda in the role of Barbarella
Who could recognize the skin-tight doll Barbarella in the tired woman with dead eyes, frighteningly cynical and angry? To immerse herself in the role and portray the despair of a person resolved to a deathly marathon, Jane danced for fourteen hours, breaking rehearsals only for brief periods of sleep. The success of the film exceeded all expectations – the role of Gloria is considered one of the actress's best and most significant performances.
Jane Fonda in the movie 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'
Jane Fonda in the movie 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'
Another of her significant performances was the role of a prostitute in the detective movie "Klute" (1971), for which she received an Oscar. Her second Oscar was presented in 1979 for her role in the movie "Coming Home", revealing the horrific consequences of the Vietnam War.
Jane Fonda winning Best Actress. 44th Oscars (1972)
However, she received her most important reward two years later. All her life, Jane Fonda, an unattainable star for millions, was like a little girl awaiting recognition from the only person – her father. That recognition came with Henry Fonda's participation in the movie "On Golden Pond", where he played the role of the father of the lead character, portrayed by Jane. Henry Fonda was already ill and died soon after. The emotionally reserved father, who had never told Jane about his love for her, expressed it in the movie when saying goodbye.
Jane Fonda in the movie 'Coming Home'
Jane Fonda in the movie 'Coming Home'
From 1985 to 2004, the actress did not work much in film. After the painful experience of her father's death, she pulled herself out of depression by doing aerobics and developing an exercise routine that was distributed worldwide through video tapes, earning her a fortune.
Jane Fonda created her own aerobics program
Jane Fonda created her own aerobics program
Even though she became a successful entrepreneur, Jane remained an actress and returned to the audience in 2005. "Monster-in-Law", "Youth", "Fathers and Daughters", no matter what role Jane Fonda took on, she proved that she could do anything.
Jane Fonda's Original Workout

Jane Fonda's Personal Life

The actress has been married three times. Her first husband was the French director Roger Vadim, with whom she had a daughter, Vanessa. The marriage lasted for eight years (1965 – 1973). Fonda enthusiastically played the role of the perfect wife: managing household chores, and also pretended to share Roger's views on free love and participated in the orgies he organized.
Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim
Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim
Tom Hayden, a left-wing radical activist, became the actress's second husband (1973 – 1990). They were united by shared views – both opposed the policy of the Republican Party and the militarized course of Richard Nixon. Their son Troy Garity was born from this marriage. After meeting Hayden, Jane began to deliver anti-militaristic speeches, fund the "Veterans Against War" society, and advocated for ending the Cold War. In large part, thanks to her views, the movie "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" got distributed in the USSR (though, the fact that the film's action took place during the Great Depression also played a significant role).
Jane Fonda and her second husband Tom Hayden
Jane Fonda and her second husband Tom Hayden
In the early 70s, Jane Fonda was detained by the police. She was accused of smuggling drugs, which turned out to be vitamins. This was a planned operation by Nixon to intimidate her – "revenge" for the actress's anti-war activities in Vietnam.

Fonda and Hayden also have an adopted daughter, Mary Luana Williams (born in 1967). She has been involved in the left-wing radical "Black Panthers" movement for black rights since childhood. Her biological parents were members of this organization; her father was imprisoned, her mother became an alcoholic, and the girl grew up as a kind of "daughter of the regiment". Jane met Mary at a children's camp, which the actress sponsored.

Her third husband (1991 – 2001) was Ted Turner, a businessman, and founder of CNN. They divorced because of Turner's infidelity.
Jane Fonda and her last husband Ted Turner
Jane Fonda and her last husband Ted Turner
After that, Fonda felt tired of serious relationships. After a dozen lovers, she had a stable relationship with music producer Richard Perry, which lasted 8 years, but they split up in 2017.
Jane Fonda and her children
Jane Fonda and her children
She believes that it's silly to give up intimate relationships after sixty: "For us, women, as we age, on the contrary, it becomes only easier. We are freer to talk about what we like in bed, and what not. And we get so used to our body that it's already too late to be ashamed of it."

Jane Fonda Now

The actress travels a lot, engages in charity, and participates in the political life of society.
The years 2017 and 2018 were another creative success for her, as Jane starred in the films "Our Souls at Night" and "Book Club," with her beloved Robert Redford (their fourth joint work) and Diane Keaton as her co-stars.

In the fall of 2017, the 80-year-old actress took to the catwalk with Helen Mirren during Paris Fashion Week, demonstrating to the world her impeccable figure and dazzling smile.
Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions
From 2014 to 2021, Jane Fonda played a lead role in the TV series "Grace and Frankie" alongside Lily Tomlin. The final episodes were released on Netflix in 2022.
A shot from the TV series 'Grace and Frankie'
A shot from the TV series 'Grace and Frankie'


  • I am a fan of old films and one of my favorites with actress Jane Fonda is Klute. Fantastic work of the whole team! By the way, for this film, the Foundation received an Oscar for Best Actress.
    2021-05-10 08:10:57
  • From the last films with her I liked «La giovinezza», it is worth seeing her early works. I think they deserve attention.
    2021-04-26 19:20:05
  • Oooh, Georgia Rule is a movie from my childhood, it`s very cool, the role of Georgia is great for Jane Fonda. I need to rewatch it this weekend :)
    2021-04-26 13:50:54
  • Not a bad movie with Fonda «Monster-in-Law». I really like films of this kind, although Jennifer Lopez did not play very much there...
    2021-04-25 10:46:50
  • Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda. How beautiful she was in her youth, and now, at age, she has some kind of noble appearance.
    2021-03-31 13:06:52
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