Jane Fonda is far more than just a Hollywood star. For decades, she has shaped the film world, advocated for social causes, and inspired generations of women with her style and uncompromising authenticity. When we meet the actress during the Cannes Film Festival, her unique presence is immediately striking. She appears elegant and self-assured, yet warm and incredibly alert. Every sentence is deliberate. Every answer is thoughtful – but never distant. It quickly becomes clear: Jane Fonda is one of those rare personalities who fills a room not just with glamour, but with conviction. Even at 88 years old, the L'Oréal Paris Ambassador proves that beauty is above all about self-confidence, character, and the courage to follow one's own path. We spoke with her about role models, beauty in aging, and the films that have given her goosebumps.
Jane Fonda on Dangerous Role Models, Beauty at 88, and Truly Good Films
InStyle: You are a screen icon and have been seen on the big screen for decades. Which outdated cliché about women in film are you personally tired of?
Jane Fonda: That we are constantly portrayed as helpless damsels in distress who need to be saved by the big, strong man. In reality, it's usually women who are the ones saving others. We are often the people who stay to care for others and take responsibility. I think we need to dismantle this myth and acknowledge that women possess their own form of strength. Men have a certain kind of strength – a more classic, masculine version. But women's strength is different. It is deeper, more resilient. Women often adapt to change better.
What do you think is the reason for that?
Women experience constant change throughout their lives – physically, psychologically, and socially. Our bodies change, our life realities change, many things shift continuously. This builds a special resilience and adaptability. I believe that's why women are sometimes perceived as a threat. Not necessarily consciously, but it partly explains why there are ongoing attempts to push women back into traditional roles or limit their self-determination.
How dangerous do you think traditional role models are?
When I look at my own country (the USA), I see developments that worry me – debates about rights and freedoms that women have already fought for. That's why it's important to stay vigilant and continue to fight for equality and self-determination. We shouldn't downplay our strength; we should recognize and protect it.
You are in Cannes with L'Oréal Paris for the “Lights On Women’s Worth Award,” which highlights female voices in the industry. Do you believe female filmmakers are still underestimated?
Women experience things in their own way. War, poverty, climate change, love – all of it is experienced differently by women. Physically, psychologically, and in every other respect. If women don't get the chance to tell their stories and those stories aren't visible on the big screen, then the female audience also doesn't feel represented. Stories that show what women really experience and feel remain invisible. That's why female filmmakers are incredibly important. So that women can recognize themselves on screen – but also so that men can see the world from a woman’s perspective. Women make up the majority of the world's population, and that's exactly why this is so crucial. It is very significant that L'Oréal Paris specifically promotes and makes visible young female filmmakers with the “Lights On Women’s Worth Award.”
Which director’s or actress’s performance has given you goosebumps recently?
Director Chloé Zhao with her film “Hamnet.” And the performance of Jessie Buckley in the same film, for which she won an Oscar this year.
You yourself will be seen in the lead role of the film adaptation of the bestselling novel “The Correspondent.” Why did you choose this role?
I was born to play this character. It’s a beautiful story – subtle and profound. I understand this character and that’s exactly why I want to play her: because I love her and feel connected to her. But there’s another side, too. I also believe in the success of this film. When you’re my age, you don’t want to invest all that time and energy into something that nobody will want to see. I think people will want to see this film. And that’s why I’m really looking forward to it.
You have not only been on the big screen for decades, but you are also in the spotlight. How has your concept of beauty changed over time?
Not at all.
Are there any beauty rituals or products you have stuck with your whole life?
No, there is nothing that has accompanied me my whole life. In my younger years, I didn’t pay much attention to my skin – and it suffered. L'Oréal Paris really helped me understand what I need to do to keep my skin healthy. I am very grateful for that.
How do you reconcile natural aging with the pressure in Hollywood to always look “perfect”?
Oh, the idea of having to look perfect – I’ve long left that behind, especially as I’ve grown older. It’s simply too exhausting. Forget perfection. The constant attempt to be perfect is very unhealthy. We are not meant to be perfect. And beauty doesn’t automatically mean perfection.
What does it mean then?
Beauty has to be real. It needs depth and authenticity. For me today, it’s much more about: How can I, as myself – Jane at 88 – show my best? Being perfect is no longer the goal. Of course, I have people around me who support me. I don’t do it all alone. But I contribute my part: I take care of my health, stay fit, and now avoid the sun – something I didn’t pay attention to before.
Speaking of exercise: What role do movement and mental health play in your personal beauty philosophy?
Actually, they go hand in hand for me. The brain isn’t just up here in the head – it is, in a way, connected to our entire body. When we move – walking, jogging, or using weights – it also helps our brain. Exercise can help improve mood, stay mentally sharp, and feel mentally alert and attentive. That’s why I basically still do similar fitness exercises as before. The big difference is only: today I do many things slower. But I stay active and fit because it benefits not only my body but also my mind.
Do you believe the beauty industry is becoming increasingly inclusive toward older women, or is there still room for improvement?
Well, there is always room for improvement. But there is no doubt that older women are now much more visible and also perceived as beautiful. And I think L'Oréal Paris has made an important contribution to that, because the brand makes many older women visible as brand ambassadors. This shows that beauty has no age.
You have been working with L'Oréal Paris for 20 years now. Looking back on that time, what does this milestone mean to you?
It gives me a lot of self-confidence. If someone had told me when I was young: “At 88, you’ll be a brand ambassador for a company like L'Oréal Paris,” I would probably have answered: “No, that can’t be.” Back then, I had no confidence in myself at all. So today, knowing that L'Oréal Paris still wants me by their side gives me a great feeling of strength and self-confidence.
Throughout her remarkable career, Jane Fonda has navigated not only the film industry but also social activism and political controversy. Born in 1937 to actor Henry Fonda, she rose to fame in the 1960s with roles in “Barbarella” and later won two Academy Awards for “Klute” and “Coming Home.” Her fitness empire in the 1980s revolutionized home exercise and empowered millions of women to prioritize their health. As an activist, she has been arrested multiple times for protesting the Vietnam War, climate inaction, and for supporting civil rights. Today, at 88, she continues to work in front of the camera and as a vocal advocate for women’s rights and environmental justice. Her partnership with L'Oréal Paris, now spanning two decades, reflects her belief that beauty companies have a responsibility to include and celebrate women of all ages.
The interview at Cannes also touched on the broader need for female representation in filmmaking. Fonda emphasized that when women are behind the camera, stories acquire a different texture – one that reflects the complexity of female experiences. She praised initiatives like the “Lights On Women’s Worth Award” for providing concrete support to emerging female directors. “It's not just about putting women in front of the camera,” she said. “It's about giving them the resources to tell their own stories.”
On the topic of aging, Fonda was refreshingly candid. She admitted that she used to neglect skin care and that it took working with L'Oréal Paris to understand proper routines. But more than products, she believes attitude is key. “We are conditioned to think we peak at 30, but I feel more myself at 88 than I ever did. I know what matters, and I waste less energy on things that don't.” Her advice to younger women: “Don't waste your youth trying to be perfect. Spend it living fully, making mistakes, and learning who you truly are.”
As her newest project “The Correspondent” nears production, fans are eager to see Fonda in a role she describes as deeply personal. The film, based on a bestselling novel, follows a war correspondent in the Middle East and examines the toll of conflict on the human psyche. Fonda will play the lead, a woman grappling with memory, duty, and the scars of reporting. “It’s a story about resilience and the cost of witnessing horror,” she said. “I feel a responsibility to do justice to the real women who live that life.”
Source: MSN News