Jane Fonda
☼ Born on 21 December 1937, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Born in New York City to legendary screen star Henry Fonda and Ontario-born New York socialite Frances Seymour Brokaw, Jane Seymour Fonda was destined early to an uncommon and influential life in the limelight. Although she initially showed little inclination to follow her father's trade, she was prompted by Joshua Logan to appear with her father in the 1954 Omaha Community Theatre production of "The Country Girl". Her interest in acting grew after meeting Lee Strasberg in 1958 and joining the Actors Studio. Her screen debut in Tall Story (1960) (directed by Logan) marked the beginning of a highly successful and respected acting career highlighted by two Academy Awards for her performances in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978), and five Oscar nominations for Best Actress in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), Julia (1977), The China Syndrome (1979), The Morning After (1986) and On Golden Pond (1981), which was the only film she made with her father. Her professional success contrasted with her personal life, which was often laden with scandal and controversy. Her appearance in several risqué movies (including Barbarella (1968)) by then-husband Roger Vadim was followed by what was to become her most debated and controversial period: her espousal of anti-establishment causes and especially her anti-war activities during the Vietnam War. Her political involvement continued with fellow activist and husband Tom Hayden in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In the 1980s she started
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the aerobic exercise craze with the publication of the "Jane Fonda's Workout Book". She and Hayden divorced, and she married broadcasting mogul Ted Turner in 1991.
In the role of actor
Still Working 9 to 5 – Hot Docs 2022 (12/05/2022)
The filmmakers and stars of the film 9 to 5 reminisce on how it remains relevant 40 years later in Still Working 9 to 5. When it was released in 1980, the film 9 to 5 used satirical comedy to tell a story about women in the workplace. More than 40 years after the release […]
Blindspot: The Cult of 2013: Barbarella (30/07/2013)
When I was compiling my list of cult films for this year’s blindspot series, my way of thinking was “the weirder, the better.” That said, I’ve been purposely holding off on some of the more unusual films for the second half of the line-up. As such, it is only appropriate that my next film to […]