Latest news with #JaneFonda
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Ryvita, cottage cheese and aerobics twice a week – I lost 5lb following a 1980s diet
The intro to Jane Fonda 's classic workout starts with impossibly limber people in thong leotards and leg warmers over tights doing moves that make my vagina hurt to look at. I can barely lift my leg to waist height let alone sink effortlessly into the splits. Still, I'd like to look like one of them – all swishy hair, toned limbs and exuberant good health. I'm not the only one: the past couple of years have seen a proliferation of 1980s-themed exercise options, from aerobics classes at trendy London gym chain Frame to the runaway success of Mum Dance, a 1980s-themed dance fitness class that runs in school gymnasiums throughout the country. Which is why I have embarked on a new health mission for the month: to follow a 1980s fitness and diet regimen in a bid to shed a few pounds. And I'm starting with Jane. Fonda released her workout in 1982, having started doing aerobics after fracturing her foot during filming for her movie The China Syndrome. She'd already published Jane Fonda's Workout Book the previous year with an accompanying audio tape with music to pair with the exercises, which became a bestseller. A video was a no-brainer; it became the highest-selling home video of the next few years, selling over 17 million copies worldwide, and is credited with starting the fitness craze among baby boomers. In this country, we had Rosemary Conley, who had founded her own slimming business in 1972, which offered both diet and exercise advice, and whose Hip and Thigh Diet, published in 1988, sold more than two million copies (it was later followed by 1990's Inch Loss Plan, a diet and exercise programme that promised to transform your shape in 28 days). Conley's success, which was predicated on gentle aerobic movement à la Fonda, accompanied by a low-fat diet, followed on from the F-Plan diet by the journalist Audrey Eyton, which first ran as a series in the Daily Express and was published as a book in 1982: allowing 1,500 calories per day, it focused on low fat and high fibre as the way to lose weight and stay healthy. In 1983, the Government introduced national dietary guidelines that recommended reducing overall dietary fat consumption to 30 per cent of total energy intake, and saturated fat to 10 per cent; in 1985, the frozen food brand Findus introduced a new 'Lean Cuisine' range to its UK offerings, in which each ready meal contained under 300 calories. Meat and two veg was out; calorie counting, cottage cheese, baked potatoes (no butter) and bran on everything was in. Still, in the 1980s, obesity was not the general problem that it is today. In Britain in the 1980s, the average weight for men was 73.6kg (11st 8lb) and for women, 62kg (9st 10lb); today, men weigh on average 85.8kg (13st 7lb) and women 72.8kg (11st 6lb), according to the latest data from NHS Digital, collected in 2022. 'It was a different world,' says Conley today when I speak to her, aged 78 and still going strong. 'We walked to school, we were much more active, we didn't drink as much – you only had a drink when you went out or if you were celebrating something special.' Nevertheless, the national guidelines combined with new diet and fitness trends pioneered by the likes of Conley meant that eating healthily in the 1980s became about regulating one's calorific intake and restricting 'bad' foods such as fat of any kind. The majority of the diets I researched restricted milk, for example, to a maximum of half a pint of skimmed milk per day, plus a little unsweetened orange juice; alcoholic drinks were restricted to a single small glass of wine or sherry per day. The emphasis was on beauty, rather than strength: 'We want to really look a lot slimmer,' wrote Conley; Fonda explained that we should do her exercises to avoid ending up with a 'scooped posture' as it looks 'less attractive'. At its worst, most faddy end were the crash diets that became all about one thing (and usually had adherents piling the pounds straight back on as soon as they stopped): the Cabbage Soup diet (where you only ate low-calorie cabbage soup for a week); the Cambridge diet, which involved replacing meals with shakes, soups and bars, and the Beverly Hills diet, a 35-day diet that required you to eat only fruit for the first 10 days, in a specific order. I wasn't prepared to subject my family to the consequences of a cabbage-based diet and I'm not sure my own intestines would have coped with the Beverly Hills option. Instead, I devised my own 1980s diet plan that was a combination of Conley and the F-Plan, and accompanied it with aerobic exercises from all over the place. Here's what the 1980s taught me. Eat smaller portions One of the most noticeable things about eating from the decade when The Police were still topping the charts is how much less an average plateful was. Although Conley's Hip and Thigh diet stipulates unlimited vegetables, including potatoes, with any of her main meals, overall portion sizes are much, much smaller: both Conley and the F-Plan, for example, allow only 25g of something like Bran Flakes or porridge for breakfast, and a fish pie recipe for four uses only 700g of cod. The average dinner plate, meanwhile, was typically around 10in in diameter in the 1980s – noticeably smaller than the average plate size today, which is between 11-12in. I don't try to stick to the F-Plan's 1,500 calories a day – it leaves my energy levels too low to concentrate on work or wrangle my children – but leaving aside the calorie restrictions, eating smaller portions is something I will definitely take with me from my sojourn into the 1980s. Cut down on fat (although not the good kind) Switching to a 'healthy eating' diet of the 1980s makes me realise just how much fat I generally incorporate into my diet: Greek yogurt with seeds for breakfast; olive oil in my salad dressing at lunch; butter on my toast in the afternoon; vegetables stir-fried in more oil or butter on my baked potatoes at dinner. By contrast, on my 1980s diet I'm having skimmed milk on my cereal at breakfast, eating low-fat cottage cheese at lunch and stir frying my mince for a chilli con carne using just a little bit of water at dinner time. By the end of my 1980s stint although I've lost my taste for pastries, cakes, ice cream and pies, I'm also craving yogurt, avocado on toast and peanut butter. 'The focus on having no fat in the diet isn't so good,' says nutritionist Dr Federica Amati, author of Every Body Should Know This: The Science of Eating for a Lifetime of Health. 'We now know that healthy fats are essential – things like olive oil, nuts and seeds are really necessary for good health.' 'These days we know that having some unsaturated fats and a little bit of oil is not bad for you,' admits Conley. 'You don't need to worry if you're eating Greek yogurt or salmon or an avocado – these are healthy foods.' Conley also admits some responsibility for the proliferation of 'low-fat' convenience foods that exploded in the 1980s and generally now have sugar added in place of the fat – not great for overall health. A 2015 paper published in the online journal Open Heart found that the fat dietary recommendations 'lacked any solid trial evidence'. Focus on fibre 'If you follow a high-fibre diet you will find that you feel more satisfied on fewer calories. And more of the calories that go into your mouth will, to put it bluntly, go straight through and down the lavatory,' wrote Audrey Eyton in the introduction to her The Complete F-Plan Diet. Eyton drew on emerging medical research that suggested that a Western diet rich in refined carbohydrates was causing all sorts of health problems and that by contrast, those in developing countries who ate foods high in dietary fibre avoided things like bowel and heart disease and diabetes. It should not just be 'health food cranks' who bought wholemeal brown bread, Eyton insisted, but all of us: in fact, we should all be eating between 25g and 50g of fibre a day to fill up, stay healthy and lose weight. It's true that Eyton's 'Fibre Filler' breakfast – a blend of Bran Flakes, bran, All Bran, almonds, dried prunes, apricots and sultanas – is remarkably filling given my small portion sizes, although her breakfast advice is basically to eat commercially available, processed cereals supplemented with bran, which I'm not sure is the optimal choice for health. All the 1980s health gurus also seem to have a remarkable reliance on Ryvita, and only Ryvita, as an acceptable vehicle for cottage cheese or tuna at lunchtime (I got used to it, although without anything on top it is dry in the extreme). Nevertheless 'the focus on fibre and on filling up on fibre to help maintain a healthy weight is really good and something that has been lost', says Dr Amati – who points out that the recommended daily dietary fibre intake for adults in the UK is 30g, and that most of us don't get nearly as much as that. I'd probably be better off eating porridge for breakfast, however, or sticking with yogurt and adding seeds and fruit for fibre – 'relying on fibre-enriched packaged foods [like breakfast cereals] is not as good as eating lentils and pulses and seeds and nuts'. Move more One of the things I enjoy most about my 1980s experiment is the exercise, which is basically regular, gentle aerobics and calisthenics. 'Are you ready for the workout?' becomes my mental daily Fonda mantra. 'Very few people were qualified [to teach aerobics] at that stage, so you basically moved to music,' says Conley (who qualified as an aerobics instructor in 1991). The first time I do Jane Fonda's workout on my sitting room floor via AppleTV, about 15 minutes into it I start to understand why Fonda and her pals look so good. The woman is a machine: she can do multiple sit-ups while still looking into the camera and chatting quite happily away; the same with leg raises, jumping jacks, high kicks and more abdominal exercises – and she has the breath to do encouraging shouts and whoops along the way (everyone in Fonda's workout video is highly enthusiastic, letting out cries of excitement every few minutes). The class is fast-paced and energetic, but not difficult to keep up with – a gentle burn as opposed to the usual heart-racing HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes I'm used to. I feel pleasantly stretched at the end of it, and the next day I can definitely feel the ache in my hips. It's the same with Conley's daily exercise programme in the Inch Loss Plan, which I alternate with Fonda's workouts: the exercises are all gentle, incorporating things like stretching, sideways jogging, an 'arm and bust uplift', a 'waist whittler' and an 'outer thigh streamliner', but I ache the next day and definitely notice a toning over time, as well as improved posture. Above all, the exercises are easy to incorporate into my daily life and don't require hours of sweating at the gym. I'm not sure I'll give up my strength training sessions or weekly 'erging' on the rowing machine in the gym, but I definitely plan to continue incorporating the daily exercises into my routine. Don't snack Although the F-Plan diet book includes a 'Snack-Eaters F-Plan', which allows for five small meals a day, generally the advice from the 1980s diet queens is to stick to breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a decent amount of time between meals to aid digestion. Used to grabbing a latte mid-morning, or a handful of nuts or a piece of toast in the afternoon, it feels odd at first to have these long gaps, but after a short while I really start to appreciate them – not only do I find my focus is clearer but it means I'm hungrier for my next meal and enjoy it more. Not grazing on chocolate on the sofa in the evening, meanwhile, means I sleep better and wake up with more energy. Definitely something I'm going to stick with. Conclusion A confession: I don't manage to stick rigidly to a 1980s regimen for the entire month. That said, I'm pleasantly surprised to have lost 5lb by the end of it, and to generally be sleeping better and feeling less stressed. The relentless focus on calorie counting that all the 1980s diets advocate feels outdated and frankly unsustainable long term: as Dr Amati points out, 'restrictive dieting actually increases the risk of low mood and depression – you need to have adequate portions'. Neither will I continue to cut out all fat from my diet, and have already reintroduced yogurt, regular cheese on top of cottage cheese (which I actually love), nuts, avocados and olive oil – although I've noticed I'm less bothered about butter and have practically lost all appetite for biscuits and cakes by following the 1980s regimen. I'm going to keep on leaving proper gaps between meals however, as well as eat more fibre – I've even started to enjoy Ryvita. As for the aerobics, I'm a proper convert. Yes Jane, I am ready for the workout.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Over 200 actors call on SAG-AFTRA pension to divest fossil fuels
This story was originally published on ESG Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily ESG Dive newsletter. More than 200 members of Hollywood's top union, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), are urging their pension plan to divest from fossil fuels, according to a Tuesday press release from climate nonprofit A-list actors Jane Fonda, Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo were among signatories to an open letter asking the SAG-Producers Pension Plan's trustees to excise more than '$100 million [invested] directly in fossil fuel companies' from its portfolio. The SAG-Producers Pension Plan is SAG-AFTRA's retirement plan and oversees over $5 billion in assets. The actor-led 'Retire Big Oil' campaign also asks the fund to reinvest 'at least 10%' of the divested funds in 'climate-safe, socially responsible funds' within five years. The letter — whose signatories also include Rosario Dawson, Laurence Fishburne and Mark Hamill — said the pension fund's fossil fuel investments are 'not just bad for the planet but for the wallets of every member of [the] union.' The actors told the plan's trustees that fossil fuels have been the worst performing sector of the economy over the past 10 years, based on S&P Global's sector index data. The actors are asking that the retirement fund divest from all fossil fuel companies, including those working in extraction, pipelines and related businesses. The letter said SAG-AFTRA's members depend on the fund in their retirement 'and fossil fuel investments are hurting their ability to retire well.' Cheadle — known for roles in 'House of Lies,' Marvel's 'Avengers' and more — said in the release that he has 'seen how fossil fuel pollution hits Black and Brown communities first and worst.' 'It makes no sense for the SAG pension to fund an industry driving these injustices,' Cheadle said. 'Divesting from Big Oil isn't only the right thing to do morally, it's also financially responsible for workers and retirees as the world rapidly moves toward clean energy.' The SAG-Producers Pension Plan has more than 65,000 participants, and the Retire Big Oil campaign will join the Climate Safe Pensions Network, which is coordinated by The campaign comes after January saw wildfires rage across more than 50,000 acres of Los Angeles, costing more than an estimated $250 billion in damages and economic loss, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate and leading to at least 29 deaths. Executive Director Todd Paglia said in the release that the actors' pension plan has 'the opportunity to lead in securing a sustainable future for its members' as the city rebuilds and wildfire risk intensifies. 'This fossil fuel divestment call is coming from working artists and creators who are the foundation of the labor union,' Paglia said. 'Together, we're urging SAG-AFTRA to align its investments with the values we fight for on- and off-screen: sustainability, justice, and long-term security.' The Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Database tallies 1,667 institutions who have divested from fossil fuels with an approximate $40.76 trillion collective asset value. Faith-based organizations make up 35.9% of the divesting institutions, followed by educational institutions (16%) and pension funds (12%), according to the database. Recommended Reading COP29 negotiators approve Article 6.4, establish standards for global carbon market Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- 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
17-06-2025
- 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
16-06-2025
- 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.'
