Jane Fonda has been a women’s icon for decades, but said she only “became a full feminist” a little over two decades ago.
The 80 for Brady star, 85, who recently announced she was in remission after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, opened up about some of her favorite topics in an interview with Elle magazine.
The two-time Oscar winner, who is open about her battle with bulimia, said she still does the exercises from the famous Jane Fonda workout but the goal is to be healthy, not skinny.
Icon: Jane Fonda, 85, has been a women’s icon for years but said she “became a full feminist” a little over two decades ago (pictured in Los Angeles in October 2011)
“Wanting to be bone thin is not good. It’s not good for your health and it’s not good for your spirit to be so deprived. Someone who is in bed with you might not like it either because you can hurt yourself on those hip bones!’
The Book Club star, who is naturally slim, said the workout is “still relevant today,” but she slows down and uses modifications to stay in shape.
“You want to be able to carry your grandchildren. And I still can.”
Healthy; She still does the exercises from the famous Jane Fonda workout, but the goal is to be healthy, not skinny. “Wanting to be bone thin is not good. It’s not good for your health. Someone who is in bed with you might not like it either because you can hurt yourself on those hip bones!’
Slower: The Book Club star, who is naturally lean, said the workout is “still relevant today,” but she goes through the movement more slowly and uses modifications to stay in shape. “You want to be able to carry your grandchildren. And I still can
Growing up, the 9 to 5 Star winner revealed that she felt she had to side with her father, legendary actor Henry Fonda.
“I grew up thinking that you have to go with the man, identify with the man, please the man… You have to be close to the men.”
“When I was first married to a French director [Robert Vadim]I have served him hand and foot. One of his friends once said about me, “God, she’s so amazing, she’s just such a guy,” and I was like, ‘Oh my God, what a compliment! That was my mentality at the time.’
Life with dad: Growing up, the 9 to 5 Star winner revealed that she felt she had to side with her father, legendary actor Henry Fonda. “I grew up thinking that you have to go with the man, you have to identify with the man, you have to please the man… You have to be close to the men” (Picture 1963)
Traditional role: In her first marriage to French director Roger Vadim, Jane says: “I served him tooth and nail. One of his friends once said about me, “God, she’s so great, she’s just such a dude,” and I was like, “Oh my god, what a compliment!” That was my mentality at the time.
The Barbarella star said that when she left Vadim and returned to the US from France, she thought the women’s movement was a waste of time and the focus should be on ending the war in Vietnam.
“Being close to these women gave me a keyhole look at the world we were trying to create: a world of fairness, equality and peace, without racism,” she explained. “They were nice, they were present. They were very different from the women I had known before – and I started wanting to be like them.”
It wasn’t until she saw The Vagina Monologues in 2000. “So really understanding feminism and learning to love women and loving the fact that I’m a woman only happened to me 23 years ago.”
Activism: Jane was a vocal activist against the Vietnam War, and then she learned about feminism by working with other women in the movement. “They were very different from the women I had known before – and I began to want to be like them.” (Pictured April 1970)
Still active: The Grace and Frankie star recently signed on as an ambassador for H&M’s Move campaign, declaring on Instagram: “Together we are on a mission to fight for equal access to sport.”
The Grace and Frankie star, who has reinvigorated her Fire Drill Friday protests to raise awareness of climate change and fight for political change in the US, recently signed on as an ambassador for H&M’s Move campaign.
Taking to Instagram, she explained in a video that part of the goal of working with the global apparel company is equality. “Together we have a mission to fight for equal access to sport.”
The collaboration may seem confusing to Jane’s fans, especially since she has spoken of not buying clothes for the past three years. “Landfills are one of the main causes of destruction of the world and the oceans. H&M accepts returns in its stores through its Garment Collecting program to recycle them for you.’
Protest: Jane has continued to take part in the Fire Drill Friday protests to raise awareness of global warming and climate change