After a troubled relationship with her father, three husbands and a career in the public eye, Jane Fonda told an audience yesterday that she has found perspective on her life.
The Oscar award-winning actress spoke at the Penn Bookstore, reflecting on her past and discussing her motives for writing her memoir, "My Life So Far."
At "60-plus" years old, Fonda said she wanted to provide a road map for others through an honest evaluation of her own life.
"When I turned 59, it dawned on me that in a year, I'd begin my third and final act," she said. "The third's the most important because if you do it right, it can make sense of the first two."
Fonda said that she isn't afraid of dying, but that she does fear she will have regrets and that she wants to evaluate her life.
"I wanted to learn about myself, so I decided that for a year I would objectively research myself," she said.
Fonda said she came to the conclusion that, for once in her life, she had found a certain internal strength.
"For the first time, I'm not a puppet in the hands of different men," she said.
She emphasized the importance of women using their voices and quipped, "I used mine. And so I ended up alone. But I'm not alone, I have myself."
Fonda said that forgiveness and understanding are crucial to having real relationships, not only with others, but with oneself.
One audience member asked whether closure in one relationship is necessary before moving on to another.
"My mother killed herself when I was 12," Fonda responded. "I won't complete that relationship. But I can try to understand her."
Fonda noted the importance of understanding why some relationships work and others don't.
Through evaluation of experience, "we learn about ourselves and can change," she said.
Fonda describes herself as someone who grew up with the "disease to please" because she felt that unless she was perfect, she wouldn't be loved.
"We're supposed to be complete, not perfect," she said.
Audience members were impressed with Fonda's courage and honesty, and in her willingness to discuss the intimate details of her life with the public.
"She was very inspirational," Engineering senior Shirley Duarte said. "I didn't know she was so passionate. It was mind-blowing."
