Screen legend and activist Jane Fonda has made a startling confession about her youth, revealing she never expected to live to see her 30th birthday, let alone approach her 88th.
From Despair to Contentment
The Grace and Frankie star, who turns 88 next month, expressed her astonishment at reaching such an age, given her tumultuous early years. Speaking on The Look, a special series from Michelle Obama's IMO podcast, Fonda was candid about her past struggles.
"I didn't think I'd live past 30. I was sure I was going to die," she revealed. "[My] youth was not especially happy... I'm not addictive, but I thought I was going to die from drugs and loneliness. So the fact that I'm almost 88 is astonishing to me."
Despite the challenges of her youth, Fonda stated she "wouldn't go back for anything," feeling more "centered, more whole, more complete" now. She also confirmed she is "very happy, single," embracing her current chapter of life.
Confronting Mortality and Living Without Regrets
Fonda explained that she has "never" been afraid of ageing or death, a perspective she cultivated as she entered what she calls her "final act" at age 60. This period of intentional reflection was crucial in shaping her current mindset.
"More importantly, I'm not afraid of dying," Fonda stated. Her motivation for living well stems from a powerful memory. "I'm afraid of dying with a lot of regrets. I watched my dad die with a lot of regrets. That was an important realisation for me."
This fear of future regret has actively guided her life for the past three decades. "If you don't want to die with regrets, then you have to live the last part of your life in such a way that there won't be any regrets," she said. Her philosophy includes surrounding herself with loving people and practising forgiveness, including "forgiving myself."
A Year of Loss and a Late-Blooming Career
The past year has been particularly difficult for Fonda, marked by the loss of several close friends and colleagues. "It's been a tough year," she told People, referencing the deaths of Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, and Diane Keaton.
She paid an emotional tribute to her Barefoot in the Park co-star Robert Redford, who died in September at 89, saying his passing "hit me hard" and that she "can't stop crying." She remembered Diane Keaton, who passed away in October, as a "spark of life and light."
Despite these sorrows, Fonda maintains a vibrant outlook on her career, which she describes as "really weird" and "totally unstrategic." After a 15-year break from acting, she returned at 65 and has found continued success.
Accepting a Lifetime Achievement award at the SAG Awards in February, she quipped, "I made one of my most successful movies in my 80s and probably in my 90s I'll be doing my own stunts in an action movie." She proudly identifies as a "late bloomer" who hasn't missed the "flower show" of life.
Fonda's final piece of wisdom is that old age can be 'fantastic' if lived with 'intentionality', proving that life's most fulfilling chapters can arrive much later than expected.
