Most 80-year-olds that I know live pretty simple and quiet lives. They certainly aren't protesting climate change, running their own businesses, or starring in/producing their own TV shows.
But then again — most people aren't Jane Fonda.
Hollywood's favorite octogenarian is without equal: in talent, style, and in grace. Let's celebrate Jane together with these 10+ random facts about Jane Fonda that fans didn't know!
She is a huge advocate on for climate change, the #MeToo movement, and more.
She has been fighting for change since the '70s, and she clearly isn't stopping anytime soon.
Luckily, we are here to help with that!
Here is a great list of everything you ought to know about Jane Fonda.
Let's get into it!
Her father is Hollywood legend, Henry Fonda. Jane's brother is actor/director Peter Fonda, and her niece is Bridget Fonda.
Oh, and her son is also Troy Garity. Did I miss anyone? I feel like I'm missing someone...
"When it was very slow going in terms of my ability to earn a living, I had savings that I could fall back on. I don’t want to pretend that I was scraping nickels and dimes together. I lived pretty close to the bone for quite a while, but I always knew I could make it. I have to say that. My privilege protected me a lot," she told Interview Magazine.
The first time Jane ever acted in anything was during a live stage production of "The Country Girl" in 1954.
She appeared alongside her famous father, Henry Fonda. From that day on, a star was in the making!
I know, shocking right? Jane made her professional modeling debut on the cover of Vogue Magazine in 1959.
At the time, Jane was still largely unknown in the industry and was known only by association with her incredibly famous father.
But you really should! Jane appeared in 1960's Tall Story. The film revolves around a poor college athlete who longs to marry the woman of his dreams.
Jane received a Golden Globe for Most Promising Female Newcomer.
Jane traveled to North Vietnam and spent two weeks with the Vietcong.
She posed for pictures, decried against imperialism on the radio, and even met with U.S. POWs. This earned her the nickname, Hanoi Jane.
Jane first won Best Actress for her work in the film Klute. She would again take home the prize in 1979 when she won for Coming Home.
Over the course of her incredible career, Jane has been nominated a total of seven times for Best Actress.
The film is called On Golden Pond and it's a classic. Jane plays Chelsea, the estranged daughter of Norman (her father in real life).
On Golden Pond was nominated for a total of ten Oscars and it took home three.
Jane has always been an activist and in 1994 she was awarded the title of Goodwill Ambassador.
She worked tirelessly for international women's rights, the effects of which we're still seeing to this very day.
In 1990, Jane made a movie called Stanley and Iris, then completely vanished for more than a decade.
She didn't make her return to the silver screen until 2005 when she starred in Monster-In-Law.
"So after that I wanted to see if I could enjoy it again. But, at 65, I never thought I’d have a career. And a hit TV show! I’m 80! I keep pinching myself! I can’t believe it! I didn’t think I would live this long!"
Jane released a series of at-home workout tapes that absolutely flew off the shelves. It quickly became the best-selling VHS of all-time — a record that Jane still holds to this day.
I'm pretty sure there's still a copy somewhere in my mom's basement.
If you still haven't got around to watching Grace and Frankie, there's never been a better time.
Jane is hilarious and Lily Tomlin absolutely slays. This is one of my favorite sleeper series to watch.
Jane Fonda in Five Acts is a look behind the curtain.
It details the lesser-known side of Jane's life as well as her struggles to define herself on her own terms.
Correction, Jane was arrested on four different occasions while on the steps of the Capitol Building.
She called these protests Fire Drill Fridays, designed to help spread awareness of the global climate change crisis.
Not that it should come as any surprise, she's practically royalty!
Jane had the honor of placing her palmprints in the cement right beside where her father's star is laid. What an incredible family legacy!
In her autobiography, Jane writes that she has dealt with this very serious issue for more than 25 years.
She has since recovered but for awhile things with her health were teetering on the edge.
“I did not think I would live to see it. Yes. And I think that it’s going to continue, it’s not just a moment. I love the Time’s Up aspect of it. We’re working with women from all different places. I’m going to DC to lobby with domestic workers. The farm workers up in Bakersfield. It’s all of us together, having each other’s backs.”
"With the Black Panthers in the ’70s, they got in touch with me to ask me to help raise money to bail their political prisoners out. It became clear to me that members of the Black Panther Party that had been imprisoned were political prisoners," she told Interview Magainze.
"I really wasn’t up-to-date on what was going on here. Boy, I sure learned fast."
She has revealed that they have not only educated her on world issues but allowed her to take the necessary next steps in her activism.
She wanted to do even more than she had in the past.
After reading her book On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal, she realized how much more she had to be doing.
It spurred her into action, and changed her life.
The company is often promoting beauty that doesn't necessarily meet society's standards, and that is where Fonda stepped in.
They chose her because of her age and chose to celebrate it.
She knows that being young is getting harder and harder, partially because of the environmental and political changes young folks are dealing with, and because of society's beauty standards.
“When you’re young, you are thinking: Who am I supposed to know? What am I supposed to do?” she told Elle.
“And yet, I’m white and privileged, so for people of colour, gay people, physically challenged people, it is all so much harder.”
The young climate activist inspired Fonda to put herself on the line, and clearly, she has no problem as she has been arrested a few fair times.
She is very dedicated to changing the world for the better.
She mentioned that her father Henry Fonda chose films that were about truth and justice, and that inspired her to always fight for what is right.
Movies clearly have the power to influence people immensely.
Do you know any other facts about her that we didn't list?
Either way, let us know down below in the comment section! We would love to hear from you!
