Latest news with #JaneFonda
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jane Fonda enjoys Hollywood reunion with protest pal six years after they were both arrested
Jane Fonda radiated youth and energy as she reunited with longtime friend and fellow activist Catherine Keener in Beverly Hills on Thursday. The Oscar winner, who recently declared she feels 'younger and healthier' at 87 than she did in her 20s, was all smiles as she held hands with Keener, 66, outside the upscale Italian hotspot Funke. The Hollywood duo were last seen together in November 2019—being arrested during a climate change protest inside the U.S. Senate Hart Building in Washington, D.C. Joined by Rosanna Arquette, the actresses were cuffed for their part in Fonda's now-famous Fire Drill Fridays campaign, which challenged lawmakers to take immediate action on climate change. But this time, instead of raising their fists, Jane and Catherine raised their forks—enjoying a low-key lunch in the ritzy L.A. neighborhood. Fonda looked effortlessly chic in a red silk blouse and tailored navy slacks, while Keener matched her vibe in a similarly sharp navy ensemble. The Oscar winner, who recently declared she feels 'younger and healthier' at 87 than she did in her 20s , was all smiles as she held hands with Keener, 66, outside the upscale Italian hotspot Funke Before parting ways, the pair shared a warm hug—proof their bond is still going strong, even without the handcuffs. Shortly after the 2019 arrest, a spokesman for the Fire Drill Fridays group said that Fonda would be 'spending the night in jail', Deadline reported. Fonda had told reporters before her arrest: 'I probably will go to jail tonight. It will not be the first time. And I am prepared to do that.' During the protest, Fonda and her fellow climate change protesters were filmed sitting in a circle on the floor of the Senate Hart Building chanting 'we shall not be moved' and 'this land is your land'. The group also shouted: 'What do we want? A Green New Deal. When do we want it? Now.' In the early 1970s, Fonda became a prominent anti-Vietnam War activist and was arrested in 1970 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for allegedly carrying pills, which turned out to be vitamins. She sparked national controversy with her 1972 trip to Hanoi, where she was photographed seated on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun—earning her the nickname 'Hanoi Jane.' Fonda also supported the Black Panthers and Native American rights, often speaking at rallies and participating in demonstrations that challenged U.S. military and government policies. Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Hollywood legend revealed she refuses to play the 'kooky grandmother, or the dying mother with dementia' in her acting roles as she feels as vibrant as ever. 'People have so many stereotypes of older people. I'm 87, and I feel younger and healthier and a greater sense of well-being than I had in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s' she tells the Daily Telegraph. Fonda added that she feels the work she is offered these days often 'isn't worthy' of her. 'I'm 87, I don't feel done yet. Roles that I'm offered are really sad' she told the publication.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Find Your People: Commencement Wisdom For The Rest Of Us
Jane Fonda, USC's Annenberg School, 2025: "Grow yourself a deep, solid community of people who share ... More your values, have each other's backs, check up on each other regularly." The graduating class of 2025 has faced unprecedented isolation. In the latest Harvard Youth Poll, only 17% reported a deep sense of belonging to a community. One in every three young adults aged 18-25 reports feeling anxious or lonely. These feelings of isolation have draconian outcomes: a 33% increase in depression and a 16-fold increase in the risk of death by suicide. In a season that many describe as the start of life's journey, this pervasive loneliness is heavy baggage. Northwestern graduate Claire Throckmorton gave voice (and hope) to this class' unique experience: "We started out more physically separate than any other first-year class, but that distance didn't keep us apart. In fact, if anything, it showed that we're better off when we're all connecting... the most important thing we learned was that we are better together than we are alone." Being connected is a lifeline in a highly fragmented world. Many of this year's commencement speakers understood this. Rather than offering generic advice about following dreams or working hard, they focused on something more fundamental: the urgent need to find and build authentic human connection. Six different speakers offered profound insights about finding your people and building the connections that sustain us. At the University of Maryland, Kermit the Frog reminded the assembled crowd that we are the company we keep. An unorthodox speaker for this event (his creator, the late Jim Henson, was a Maryland alum), his message hit the mark. "Look around," he said, "These are friends you will have for your whole life, and there will be many others to collect along the way." The most important connections aren't always obvious—to recognize them requires intention and genuine curiosity. But Kermit's message was about more than just making friends. It was about how we collaborate to ensure a future that makes space for all of us. "Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together." Staying open to the wisdom and friendship of others paves the way for new insights and opportunities where you least expect them. Even from a frog. Kermit the Frog, University of Maryland, May 22, 2025. At USC's Annenberg School School of Communication, actress Jane Fonda confronted the cultural forces that impede community. "In these uncertain times, we need to strengthen our ties to our colleagues, our friends and family, because we're going to need this support for safety, for love, for help, for fun—let's not forget fun—and for survival." Since the 1980s, society has shifted to a toxic adulation of individualism, a focus on 'me and mine.' It's 'no accident,' she explained. 'It's being driven by people who want us disempowered. The myth of the rugged individual who needs no one is just that: a myth created by stories through culture." Her call to action was direct and urgent: as future storytellers, graduates must rewrite the narrative. 'Don't let anxiety, depression or hopelessness cause you to isolate…Grow yourself a deep, solid community of people who share your values, have each other's backs, check up on each other regularly.' At Temple University, tech journalist and Wired editor Steven Levy tackled AI head on: "As amazing as AI might become, by definition it cannot be human, and therefore the human connection we homo sapiens forge with each other is unique—and gives us an edge." Investors are spending billions of dollars to 'make their models think like accomplished humans,' Levy said. But, he reminded the assembled class, 'You have just spent four years learning to think as accomplished humans. The difference is immeasurable" For all of AI's abilities, he added, it can't replace the interpersonal connection that is our human superpower. "AI is going to have a huge impact on the labor market.' But, 'there are countless roles AI can never fill because the technology can't replicate true human connection…you will thrive by putting your heart into your own work. AI has no such heart to employ.' Right now, the world needs human qualities: empathy, consciousness, authentic connection. His final words in a speech that affirmed the importance of humanity? 'I. Am. Human.' At Bucknell University, Y Combinator co-founder Jessica Livingston offered graduates concrete advice about choosing a path for the future: 'Find the interesting people." Livingston expressed what often goes unsaid. After years of following clearly prescribed paths from elementary school through college, graduates now face unlimited paths and a lot less guidance. "You can go in any direction now," she told them, but navigating that freedom requires intentional relationship building. Interesting people aren't just sources of inspiration—they're sources of information, opportunity, and direction. By finding the people who are doing the work you find interesting, you'll not only work harder, you'll enjoy it. So ask questions, listen for clues, be curious and open your mind. When you find your people, you'll find your calling. At Yale, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern challenged graduates to embrace what many see as weaknesses in leadership: doubt, vulnerability, and sensitivity. "We need the power of your imposter syndrome," she told the graduates, "because it's also your curiosity and your humility. We need your sensitivity, because it's also your kindness and your empathy." Ardern explained the Māori concept of "rangatira"—a leader who weaves people together rather than commanding from above. Her message was both personal and political: the very traits that make you question yourself, that nagging feeling that you don't belong, are actually superpowers for weaving authentic connections. In a culture of individual achievement and confident leadership, Ardern urged graduates to shift perspectives: 'It's not just about you,' she said. 'It's about us.' At Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy delivered an important prescription: human connection isn't just nice, it's essential medicine. Murthy has spent years researching and documenting the damage social disconnection does to our physical and mental health. It's as dangerous as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Despite his policy expertise, Murthy's speech was personal, relating the lowest points in his career and the power of a small group of friends to shift his mindset and repair his spirit. Overcoming loneliness, he explained, isn't about the number of people around you but about the quality of those relationships. A few caring friends can change the course of your life. Murthy's message reminds us that the cure for our isolation epidemic isn't found in therapy or medication, but in the simple act of showing up for each other. Commencement speeches may be designed for graduates, but their wisdom is a mirror that reflects the current moment. This year's messages offered powerful reminders of the power and responsibility of our humanity, for all of us. Connection isn't just personal. It's professional, creative, even existential. And like everything in life that matters, finding your people isn't a one-time event, it's an ongoing and intentional practice of reaching out, staying curious, and rejecting the cultural narratives that tell us we can go it alone. This year's speeches exhorted us to embrace a life-changing mission: build the communities that sustain us all.
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
‘Raise a ruckus': Fiery Jane Fonda ends Aussie tour with a bang
Hollywood legend Jane Fonda has wrapped up her tour of Australia with a powerful message — she'll return, but first, she's heading back to the U.S. to 'raise a ruckus.' The 87-year-old Oscar-winning actress and outspoken activist captivated audiences in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the Wanderlust True North Series. In conversation with veteran journalist Liz Hayes at ICC Sydney on Sunday night, Fonda reflected on her film career, activism, and personal journey — offering a glimpse of what's next. 'I'm coming back,' she said, revealing she's already received an invitation to trek through the outback. 'I met a fantastic woman — I can't remember where — she said she'd hiked 26 miles, so I'm gonna come back and do it, and spend time with some Aboriginal women.' But as her whirlwind visit drew to a close, Fonda admitted it hadn't been easy watching events unfold back home. 'I love Australia, but it is very hard being here and looking at what is happening in my country, my city, my state,' she said. 'I go home tomorrow, and I'll just go home and raise a ruckus — it's hard to do it when you're not there.' That promise to 'raise a ruckus' wasn't just rhetoric. 'There's an oil well in Santa Barbara, California — in 2015 it leaked and spilled oil everywhere — they're trying to start it up again, so I might chain myself to that,' Fonda said, adding that she had been meeting with Greenpeace during her trip Down Under. At a previous event in Melbourne — rumoured to have earned her a $300,000 speaking fee — she gave a blistering critique of American politics. Known for her lifelong activism, Fonda didn't hold back, targeting former President Donald Trump with an expletive-laden tirade that stunned the crowd of over 1,000 attendees. 'F**k those neoliberals and fascists and people who don't move to love,' she said. 'We have to move to love and empathy.' Her call to action was fiery and unapologetic, as she warned that many working-class Americans would soon experience 'buyer's remorse' over their political choices. 'In the United States, 78 million people voted for Trump — not all of them MAGA,' Fonda said, explaining that many blue-collar voters had been failed by the Democratic Party. 'But people are hurting — men and women — and they're going to realise it.' This unwavering political voice is nothing new for Fonda. She first stirred controversy as an activist in the 1970s for her support of the Black Panthers, the Women's Movement, and the plight of Native Americans. Fonda's opposition to the Vietnam War and the U.S. government's involvement in it sparked huge backlash. After a controversial trip to North Vietnam in 1972, her critics slammed her with the moniker 'Hanoi Jane,' and some U.S. politicians even called for her to be tried on charges of treason. Asked on Sunday about the hatred directed toward her during that period, Fonda said being part of a 'movement' helped her endure. 'I was not alone — I was part of a posse that had my back. I knew that what I was doing was right... you just go through it. 'And then they die or go to jail, and you're left,' laughed Fonda. 'I'll outlive all those f******,' she said to an applauding audience. Fonda has since been arrested multiple times throughout her 80s for civil disobedience during climate rallies. 'It feels so good to be arrested,' she joked. Fonda's legacy is as layered as it is iconic. The daughter of Oscar-winning actor Henry Fonda and sister to the late Peter Fonda, she's known for roles in classics like Barefoot in the Park, Barbarella, 9 to 5, On Golden Pond, and Monster-in-Law. Some of her most acclaimed work came in films with powerful social messages, such as They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Klute, and Coming Home — the latter two earning her Academy Awards for Best Actress. She's also picked up seven Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, an Emmy for her work in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, and nominations for both a Grammy and a Tony. Earlier this year, she was honoured with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, delivering a rousing speech urging empathy in politically divisive times. From Hollywood screens to protest lines, Jane Fonda remains a powerhouse of passion, purpose, and provocation — and if her time in Australia is any indication, she's not slowing down anytime soon. But what's the octogenarian most proud of? 'If your early childhood is traumatic, you put an armour around your heart,' explained Fonda, who has spoken at length about losing her mother to suicide at age 12, and her often emotionally distant relationship with her father. 'It's hard to get rid of that armour — it takes a lot of work. 'The armour is beginning to fall away and my heart is beginning to soften — that's what I'm proud of.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jane Fonda vows to 'raise a ruckus' as she heads back to the US after trip to Australia where she called Trump a 'f**ker'
Jane Fonda is heading back to the United States to 'raise a ruckus' after enjoying her trip Down Under. The 87-year-old Oscar winner, who has been in Australia headlining talk events in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the Wanderlust True North Series, assured fans that she would be back soon, but not before tackling the political climate back in the US. Speaking to Daily Telegraph on Sunday, the Book Club star opened up about the mix of emotions she felt returning to the US as several 'No Kings' protests took place across the country over the weekend. 'I'll tell you what, I love Australia but it is very hard being here and looking at what is happening in my country, my city, my state,' she told the publication. She then made a weighty promise to her Aussie fans, assuring them she was going back with a fight. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I go home tomorrow and I'll just go home and raise a ruckus,' she sensationally said. This isn't the first time Jane brushed on American politics while in the Land Down Under. During a rumoured $300,000 appearance in Melbourne on Thursday, the Hollywood legend held absolutely nothing back during a Q&A. The actress, known for her trailblazing activism and iconic aerobics videos, unleashed a tirade against Donald Trump, dropping the F-bomb not once but twice, to a stunned crowd of more than one thousand women. It was Fonda's fiery 'call to arms' that proved the most explosive part of her appearance. She launched into a blistering attack on US President Donald Trump, labelling him 'that f**ker' as she urged the crowd to make a difference. The Grace and Frankie star was born in New York in 1937 to legendary Hollywood star Henry Fonda, and she is the sister of late actor Peter Fonda and aunt of retired actress Bridget Fonda. The seasoned activist, famously dubbed 'Hanoi Jane' for her stance against the Vietnam War, proudly spoke of her more recent arrests in her 80s for non-violent civil disobedience during climate change rallies. 'It feels so good to be arrested,' she confessed, highlighting her lifelong commitment to fighting for her beliefs. The two-time Oscar winner and former fitness queen was spotted at Sydney Airport on Friday, cutting a chic figure as she was wheeled through the terminal ahead of her highly anticipated one-off show at the ICC in Sydney on Sunday 'People who do things that are stupid, bad and cruel and hostile, like the people running my government now; they're not bad people, they're unwell,' Fonda declared in her assessment of the former US leadership. The veteran actress also weighed in on American politics, acknowledging the millions who voted for Trump. 'In the United States, 78 million people voted for Trump, not all of them MAGA,' she noted. However, Fonda predicted a swift change of heart for many: 'But working class people are really hurting in the United States, men and women. They're going to have buyer's regret very soon about voting the way they did.' In a powerful and expletive-laden speech, Fonda roared: 'F**k those neoliberals and fascists and people who don't move to love. We have to move to love and empathy.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jane Fonda, 87, shocks Melbourne crowd with X-rated Trump rant and admits her 'shop is closed due to flooding' in astonishing tell-all
Hollywood legend Jane Fonda certainly got her money's worth – and then some – during a rumoured $300,000 appearance in Melbourne, holding absolutely nothing back despite battling a pesky cold. The 87-year-old Oscar winner, known for her trailblazing activism and iconic aerobics videos, unleashed a tirade against Donald Trump, dropping the F-bomb not once but twice, to a stunned crowd of more than one thousand women. Fonda, who reportedly eased her jet lag with a lavish stay in a diplomatic suite at the Park Hyatt and a shopping spree down Collins Street, gave a marathon performance. She charmed fans during a meet and greet before her no-holds-barred interview with Liz Hayes. The veteran star hilariously recounted her past sex scenes with Jon Voight, quipping she wished she'd had an 'intimacy coordinator that was tough.' But it was her candid admission about her current love life that truly raised eyebrows: 'I've closed up shop due to flooding,' she declared, to roars of laughter. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The event, part of former Swisse Vitamins CEO Radek Sali's Wanderlust talkfest at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, began with a rather serene half-hour guided meditation on Thursday. However, any sense of calm was shattered once Fonda took the stage. It was Fonda's fiery 'call to arms' that proved the most explosive part of her appearance. She launched into a blistering attack on US President Donald Trump, labelling him 'that fu—er' as she urged the crowd to make a difference. The Grace and Frankie star was born in New York in 1937 to legendary Hollywood star Henry Fonda, and she is the sister of late actor Peter Fonda and aunt of retired actress Bridget Fonda. The seasoned activist, famously dubbed 'Hanoi Jane' for her stance against the Vietnam War, proudly spoke of her more recent arrests in her 80s for non-violent civil disobedience during climate change rallies. 'It feels so good to be arrested,' she confessed, highlighting her lifelong commitment to fighting for her beliefs. 'People who do things that are stupid, bad and cruel and hostile, like the people running my government now; they're not bad people, they're unwell,' Fonda declared, in her assessment of the former US leadership. The veteran actress also weighed in on American politics, acknowledging the millions who voted for Trump. 'In the United States, 78 million people voted for Trump, not all of them MAGA,' she noted. However, Fonda predicted a swift change of heart for many: 'But working class people are really hurting in the United States, men and women. They're going to have buyer's regret very soon about voting the way they did.' In a powerful and expletive-laden speech, Fonda roared: 'F--- those neoliberals and fascists and people who don't move to love. We have to move to love and empathy.' But it wasn't just politics on the agenda. During the pre-show meet and greet, the eternally youthful Fonda was quizzed on something far more personal: her sex life. And true to form, she answered with her signature bluntness. 'I don't get naked in bed with anybody anymore,' Fonda stated matter-of-factly. Then, in a candid admission that left jaws on the floor, she added: 'If I was going to have sex, I would want it to be with a 20-year-old. I like certain kinds of skin.' But I don't want to impose my old skin on somebody else, so I decided to quit altogether, and I'm so happy about it,' she concluded. Fonda was spotted at Sydney Airport on Friday, cutting a chic figure as she was wheeled through the terminal ahead of her highly anticipated one-off show, called In Conversation with Jane Fonda. Wearing oversized sunglasses, a sleek navy coat, face mask and sneakers, the Hollywood legend looked every bit the global icon as she rested in a wheelchair. Fonda will take the stage alongside Hayes at ICC Sydney Theatre on Sunday.
