Jane Fonda during the WIF (Women in Film) Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. November 6, 2025. Reuters
Berlin: American actress Jane Fonda, who is 87 years old, spoke frankly about her constant feeling of being unappreciated in her relationships, and about her delay in discovering herself.
The two-time Oscar-winning star said in an interview with German magazine Stern: “I have never felt appreciated.”
She added that she did not learn to set boundaries in her relationships until she was in her sixth decade, noting that her realization that “the word (no) is a complete sentence in itself” was a liberation for her.
Jane Fonda: It is not the abundance of experiences that makes a person wise, but rather thinking about those experiences and understanding their meaning is what brings wisdom.
Fonda emphasized the importance of kindness when choosing a partner, a conviction she did not come to until late. She explained that in her youth, she believed that attractiveness was the basis, adding: “Believe me, this will not work,” noting that what she missed more than anything was appreciation.
Fonda also spoke about the importance of self-reflection in aging, explaining that she gained clarity and self-confidence through writing and thinking throughout her long life. She said: “It is not the abundance of experiences that makes a person wise, but rather thinking about those experiences and understanding their meaning is what brings wisdom.”
Fonda noted that she remains curious and open-minded even at the age of 87, saying, “I would like to emphasize that self-confidence and joy do not fade with age.”
(dpa)
