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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Jane Fonda on Life

Many of us remember Jane Fonda for some of her greatest movies, while few others remember her for her activism during the Vietnam War. Fonda's early fame came through her work in film industry and in the 1980s she became the fitness guru for many fans and keep-fit enthusiasts. In her new book, she covers every aspect of life. At the age of 73 with a new hip and knee she seems to be at peace; being older and wiser. Reading through this book is also a confessional and autobiographical in nature, which made me remember Shirley MacLaine's recent book, "I'm over all that: and other confessions," where she also touches upon very similar issues of life. It is interesting to know these two women of Hollywood bring similar wisdom to their listeners.

One would certainly like to know what it is like to be the daughter of a Hollywood icon. What we saw in the classic movie "On Golden Pond" was a true reflection of her relationship with her dad? She had great fondness for her father and respect in her heart which was seen when she reminisced about her father on TCM channel, and now in this book. "And Dad could not deal with emotion, he just couldn't," she continues. "He didn't know what to say, and if we had cried - which of course I wouldn't - he wouldn't have known what to do. But what can you do? Forgiveness. He did the best he could. I knew the kind of person that he wished he was. And I loved him." She continues, about who her father was and who he wished to be "is one of the reasons that I try to live my third act in such a way that I won't have regrets," Fonda says. "You never get there entirely, but you can spend your life working at it." In this book, she dishes her private life; sordid details affairs with co-stars; a swinging sex life with her first husband, Roger Vadim, and she partied with Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate. Second husband Hayden treated her like dirt and used her as a piggy bank for his left-wing radical causes. Third husband Ted Turner was a right-wing media mogul and an environmental hysteric. She regrets she didn't sleep with Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

After costarring with Jennifer Lopez and Lindsay Lohan, She says, she tried to mentor Lohan unsuccessfully: "She would see me coming and she'd flee," Fonda says. "For Lindsay to create a new norm, I would have to wrap my arms around her, or someone would, and take her far away, for a long, long time. I don't think she would allow it to happen. Her norm is chaos. Of course, when you know that about somebody, you can't help but love them."

Fonda is upbeat throughout the book and she recalls stories about her own struggles with self-esteem, relationships and health. She has plenty to say about retirement planning; according to this fitness guru, do not abuse alcohol, try to get enough sleep, and keep exercising; these are the graceful way of retiring.

Reference: Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit--making the most of all of your life by Jane Fonda

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