Oscar-winning, brilliantly intellectual actress Jane Fonda is to be recognized with the American Film Institute’s lifetime achievement award.
She follows in the footsteps of her incredible father, Henry Fonda, who was handed the AFI’s highest honor in 1978.
Fonda has made more than 40 films, winning Academy Awards for both Klute in 1971 and 1978’s Coming Home.
She returned to acting in 2005 after a 15-year hiatus and has recently been seen in HBO drama The Newsroom and an outstanding portrayal of Nancy Regan in Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
“Jane Fonda is American film royalty,” said chair of the AFI board, Howard Stringer, in a statement.
“A bright light first introduced to the world as the daughter of Henry Fonda, the world watched as she found her own voice and forged her own path as an actor and a cultural icon.
“Today she stands tall among the giants of American film.”
Fonda has often marched to the beat of a different drummer. Marched lets face it she beat the damn thing alone especially when it was considered career suicide to do so. Her strong convictions are well known as a political activist, protesting against the war in Vietnam, campaigning for equal rights and the environment. Now a cause is all the rage, but in the 1970’s Fonda brought attention to issues at a time when it was considered to be unspoken topics. Trail blazing is often a thankless hard journey. Fonda has made Fonda-esk sized mistakes. No stone throwing here, but you don’t learn if you don’t experience and remember.
The actress went on to develop and create the aerobics fitness craze releasing two dozen workout videos and numerous books. Originally developed to raise money for her husband Tom Haydon’s political organization, but the results for millions of women was overall positive. It made women aware of their bodies. So it was really the Haydon exploitation Democrat fundraising exorcising tapes movement, it still inspired long life threw exercise and nutrition, created not only jobs but a whole industry. Isn’t that what a political movement is supposed to do. A road is a road, some are paved, some a little rocky.
She received an Emmy nomination earlier this year for her role as Leona Lansing in Aaron Sorkin (one of our favorite writers ) drama The Newsroom, which also stars Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer.
Her autobiography, My Life So Far, topped the New York Times bestseller list and was listed as one of SPY HOLLYWOOD’S must read books.
The Fondas are the first father and daughter to both be recognized by the AFI, although several other families have received double honors, including father and son Kirk and Michael Douglas and brother and sister Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine.
Fonda made her film debut in 1960 comedy Tall Story but it was her performance in 1969 depression-era drama They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? that earned her her first Oscar nomination.
The actress, whose other film credits include The China Syndrome and Barefoot in The Park, will be presented with the honor at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles next year.
SPY HOLLYWOOD will bring you all the highlights of the evening glittering tribute to one of Hollywood’s Best. Jane Fonda
LOU CEFFER
The post We could not be more Fonda of Jane, AFI Film Awards honors appeared first on SPYHollywood.
