Iconic actress and activist Jane Fonda, now 87, has candidly admitted she never anticipated living past her youth. During a recent episode of “The Look,” a special series from Michelle Obama’s “IMO” podcast, Fonda shared her disbelief, stating, “I didn’t think I’d live past 30. I was sure I was going to die.”
Fonda attributed these early fears to a challenging upbringing, recalling that her “youth was not especially happy.” She specifically referenced the profound impact of her mother, Frances Ford Seymour’s, death when Fonda was just 12 years old. Her father was the renowned actor Henry Fonda.
“I’m not an addict, but I thought I was going to die from drugs and loneliness,” Fonda elaborated on the podcast. The reality of approaching 88 years old, she noted, “is amazing to me.” This unexpected longevity has brought a sense of contentment.
Reflecting on her present state, Fonda expressed deep satisfaction, emphasizing, “I wouldn’t go back for anything. I feel more centered, more fulfilled, more complete. I am very happy, single.” This profound sense of peace marks a significant contrast to her earlier predictions.
Despite her early anxieties about life itself, Fonda revealed she has “never” been afraid of aging. More significantly, she stated, “The most important thing is that I’m not afraid of death.” This outlook solidified around her 60th birthday, a time she mentally marked as “the beginning of my final act” and a period where she sought guidance on how to live it meaningfully.
A powerful motivator for Fonda has been the fear of dying with regrets, a sentiment she witnessed in her own father’s passing. “I’m afraid of dying with a lot of regrets. I saw my father die with a lot of regrets,” she explained. This observation served as a crucial revelation, teaching her that “if you don’t want to die with regrets, you have to live the last stage of your life in such a way that there are no regrets.”
This guiding principle has informed Fonda’s life over the past three decades, leading her to prioritize forgiveness, including self-forgiveness, and to seek connection. “I also want to be surrounded by people who love me… Forgiveness comes into play, even forgiving myself,” she shared. This intentional approach, she believes, has allowed her to “live to have no regrets.”
The podcast episode, featuring Michelle Obama (61), specifically explored the experience of women aging. Fonda articulated her philosophy, asserting, “I think old age is fantastic if you live it with intentionality. Intentionality is the key. Really think about it.” She advocates for a deliberate engagement with later life.
Fonda, known for her long-standing activism, also touched upon her dual role as a public figure. “I am controversial, I am an activist, and I have been very unpopular,” she acknowledged. “Now I am popular. It probably won’t last, but I think it’s important for someone like me — who is an activist — to show that I can also have a good presence and that I am still hirable. That encourages young people not to be so afraid.”
Earlier this year, Fonda spoke candidly about her enduring career and continued acting in her 80s, reflecting on lifetime achievements. She dismissed the idea of her career winding down, stating, “Their enthusiasm makes this seem like the twilight of my life, and more like a ‘Come on, girl, give it your all!’ Which is good, because I’m not done yet.” She described her path as “a very strange career — totally without strategy.”
Fonda highlighted her unusual return to acting at 65 after a hiatus, leading to one of her most successful films in her 80s. She even projected, “probably in my 90s I’ll be doing my own action scenes in a movie.” Drawing on a fitting metaphor, she declared, “Have you ever heard the phrase: ‘It’s okay to be a late bloomer as long as you don’t miss the flower show’? I am a late bloomer. This is the flower show.”