Fonda seems to have been driven by a childhood that was plagued by dysfunction.
Her father was reportedly cold and distant, andher mother committed suicidewhen she was only 12.
In 2016, Fonda said she blamed her father for her issues with bulimia.
“My father would send my stepmother to tell me to lose weight and wear longer skirts.
In fact, many saw Fonda as theAmerican version of French sex bombshell, Bridgette Bardot.
“For a long time, I couldn’t look at it,” Fondasaid in a60 Minutesinterview.
“I thought that it was politically incorrect, you know.”
Later, she said she lightened up a bit and found the role “charming.”
The marriage would last seven years and produce a daughter, Vanessa, in 1968.
Fonda married three times, admitting thatshe allowed each of her husbands to reinvent her.
“I thought my heart would burst,” shetoldVanity Fairin 2002.
Ultimately, Vadim’s frivolous playboy lifestyle proved exasperating for Fonda.
They would eventually divorce in 1990, after producing a son, Troy.
She worked tirelessly, opposing the Vietnam War and supporting the Civil Rights movement.
And I want to apologize to them and their families.”
“She’d lost a lot of weight from her already tiny frame.
Though she continued to put up a front that screamed ‘Everything’s fine!’
I could see things were not.
Emotionally, she was shutting down.”
At the time, Georgia led the nation with the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy.
“I’m a controversial person, right?
Coming from Hollywood I was looked on with suspicion as an elitist.
Since then, Fonda has released dozens more fitness and wellbeing videos.
“People are still doing them!”
FondatoldShapein 2014, on the 30th anniversary of the iconic, original workout video.
“People have been doing the original workouts consistently for the past 30 years.
It’s wonderful that there are such a variety of things out there now.”
After conquering her eating disorder, Fonda adopted a healthy eating program.
“I’m careful what I eat.
I eat fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and chicken,” Fonda told the magazine.
“I had lamb chops for my birthday and tonight I’m gonna have pork chops!
But I stay away from desserts.
I make a run at minimize the carbs and stay away from sugars.
And most importantly, I meditate.
I started when I was approaching 70.
It reduces stress and anxiety and it keeps me centered and grounded.”
Obviously, her hard work has paid off it’s impossible to think this beautywill be 80 in December!
“I’m 77 but I’m very youthful.
I’ve always had a lot of energy.
Still stunnning
Fonda haslived, no doubt.
But does she have regrets?
Why waste time?”
Fondatold theHollywood Reporterin 2011.
So when you die, you have a minimum number of regrets.”
What a life, Jane Fonda, and what an inspiration for women everywhere.
