There are icons, there are legends, and then theres Jane Fonda.
And if people are enjoying a movie, the message will enter their subconscious by osmosis.
Fonda was arrested in 2019 for protesting climate change in Washington, DC.
Photo: James Franklin
Im just so grateful to have had the career and life that Ive had.
Ahead of the SAG Awards, Fonda caught up withVogueto chat about her storied career.
Vogue: Does receiving an honor like this life-achievement award make you reflective about your career?
Fonda and Redford inBarefoot in the Park(1967)
Jane Fonda:Not at all.
As Simone Signoret once said, Nostalgia aint what it used to be.
An honor like this feels more like a big encouragementless about the past, more about the future.
Fonda was arrested in 2019 for protesting climate change in Washington, DC.
But it feels pretty cozy, and Im extremely grateful because I love being a member of SAG.
I am a big believer in guilds and unions.
Receiving this honor from my peers makes it very special.
Fonda and Anthony Perkins in the 1960 rom-comTall Story.
At first, I just needed to get a job.
I was still living with my father, and my stepmother wanted me out of the house.
I sunk into my acting career like a warm bath and didnt really commit myself for quite a while.
Fonda inWalk on the Wild Side(1962)
As a result, I didnt enjoy my first films that much.
You werent even born yet, were you?
I
Actually, I dont wanna talk about that.
Michael Sarrazin and Fonda in the 1969 filmThey Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
[Tall Story] was not a good experience.
She was a real character, and I loved playing hersomuch.
That was my second movie, and it made me decide I really wanted to pursue this profession.
Fonda won her second best-actress Oscar for her performance inComingHome(1978).
Did you feel the burden of your family name in those early years of your career?
Theres no question that my last name was more of a help than a hindrance.
Im very aware of the fact that my fathers name opened doors for me.
Fonda won her first Oscar playing a high-priced call girl who gets tangled up in a murder investigation in 1971’sKlute.
People saw a new movie starring Henry Fondas daughter and thought, Hmm, lets go take a look.
Thats why I studied with Lee; instead of going to class once a week, I went twice.
I had the freedom to explore, so thats when I decided to strike out on my own.
Jennifer Lopez with Fonda on the set ofMonster-in-Law(2005)
Do you consider yourself a Method actor now, or did you at any point in your career?
I was a Method-ish actor.
Michael Sarrazin and Fonda in the 1969 filmThey Shoot Horses, Dont They?
Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda, in the 1981 filmOn Golden Pond
Did you enjoy that experience?
I absolutely loved it!
I could feel myself sinking down into that characterand that was my first Oscar nomination too!
Tomlin, Parton, and Fonda in9 to 5(1980)
Thats what I craved.
Fonda won her second best-actress Oscar for her performance inComingHome(1978).
I would go out with United Auto Workers organizers and just watch them work.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
In 1971, I told Ken that I was quitting acting to become an organizer.
Im assuming thats how a film like9 to 5was born?
Its so outrageously fun, but at its core its a film about labor rights.
9 to 5came about because I had a friend whose day job was organizing female office workers.
Was that the case for you as well?
Women were just starting to gain more power in Hollywood by the 70s.
The things that started to come my way went much deeper than the movies I made in the 60s.
Do you have a personal favorite performance from your filmography?
I thinkKluteis my best performance.
But Im also very proud ofThe Dollmaker,which I won an Emmy for.
After retiring from acting in 1990, why did you chooseMonster-in-Lawas a reintroduction to Hollywood?
I quit the business not just because I married Ted but because I wasnt having fun anymore.
I thought I was never gonna act again because I really didnt miss it.
When I got offeredMonster-in-Law, the script wasnt very good.
The idea of coming back in a Jennifer Lopez movie felt right.
Shes a huge star, so it wasnt like I had to carry the film alone.
The one person I remember being the most persistent was Harvey Weinstein.
Each situation is different.
I dont see myself as the person whos going to take somebody under their wing.
Im not a diva, Im a professional.
Im always on time, and I always know my lines.
MakingOn Golden Pondwas one of the great joys of my life.
It was the first and only time that I worked with my father.
He died shortly after the film came out.
It was fantastic to watch him perform and see what a pro he was.
There was no diva-ness about him.
It was fascinating to watch how he held himself and comported himself on a set.
He was always very respectful to the crew and always on time.
I was so proud, and I always make a run at emulate him in that sense.
I loved him very much.
What are your thoughts on some of your iconic films being reinterpreted?
Well, weve tried.
The three of us as older women, but with some younger women as well.
One of the great things about9 to 5is that its over-the-top and hilarious but still based in reality.
They probably would never even meet their boss or know who their boss is.
They wouldnt know who to report wage theft or discrimination to.
Theyd probably have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.
Nobodys asked me about it!
I wish I could do a remake ofBarbarella, but I wouldnt play her again.
I have a lot of ideas about what that could look like.
Care to share any?
If Sydney asks, Ill let her know.
I dont know her, and Ive never met her, but I think shes great.
Im sure shell be a fantastic Barbarella.
Your last feature film appearances were80 for BradyandBook Club: The Next Chapterin 2023.
Whats next for you?
Im trying to buy a booktwo books, actually.
But were in competition with another studio, so I dont want to say what they are just yet.
But Im excited about sinking my teeth into a new character soon.
When you reflect on the scope of your career, is there an achievement that youre particularly proud of?
Receiving the Life Achievement Award from my union really is a pretty huge thing for me.
I just never thought I would live this long, much less be a working actor for this long.
Im so grateful to have had the career and life that Ive had.
Do you still love acting?
The magic doesnt happen every time.
Its a magical feeling, and I wouldnt give it up for anything.
