Jane Fonda, 87, admits she did so many drugs in her 20s she thought she would die

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Jane Fonda thought she would die from ‘drugs and loneliness’ when she was in her youth.

Jane Fonda is surprised she’s about to turn 88. She says she didn’t have a particularly joyful youth and never expected to live this long.

In an episode of Michelle Obama’s podcast series, The Look, she shared that she once believed she wouldn’t live past the age of 30, admitting she fully expected to die young. She also described her youth as a generally unhappy time.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always believed in resilience, but looking back, my own journey has been… surprising. I never struggled with addiction, but I hit a really dark patch – a combination of intense loneliness and a health scare involving medication that honestly made me believe my life was ending. So, the fact that I’m approaching 88 years old? It still feels like a wonderful miracle to me. It’s a constant reminder that even when things seem impossible, there’s always hope.

I have no regrets about leaving, and I’m genuinely happier now. I feel much more at peace with myself and complete as a person, and I’m enjoying being single.

After some thoughtful reflection, Jane isn’t worried about aging or death, seeing them as a natural part of life’s conclusion.

She said: ‘More importantly, I’m not afraid of dying.

The most significant change I made in my life happened as I approached my 60th birthday. I felt like I was entering a new, final chapter, and I wasn’t sure how to make the most of it.

At the time, the 80 For Brady actress reflected on her biggest fears and it changed her mindset.

Honestly, when she said that, it just hit me. She was talking about being terrified of reaching the end and being full of ‘what ifs.’ She saw her dad go through that, and it really changed her, and me too! It made so much sense – if you don’t want to look back with a heart full of regret, you have to start living now, really living, so you don’t end up with anything you wish you’d done differently. It’s like, the end of your life shouldn’t be filled with sadness over missed chances, and she just gets that. It’s stuck with me ever since.

I also crave loving relationships and connection with others. Learning to forgive – including myself – has been a central theme in my life for the past three decades. It’s really shaped how I live, and I strive to make choices I won’t later regret.

Jane believes old age can be ‘fantastic’.

She believes growing older can be wonderful, but only if you live with purpose. It’s all about being mindful and making conscious choices.

‘I’m controversial, and I’m an activist, and I’ve been very unpopular.

I’m having a moment in the spotlight, but I know it’s likely temporary. As someone who advocates for change, I want to demonstrate that it’s possible to be both effective and presentable, which hopefully makes younger people feel more confident and less afraid to be themselves.

Fonda recently shared that this past year has been difficult for her, as she mourned the loss of several friends, including Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, and Diane Keaton.

The actress says she’s been deeply saddened by the deaths of the three people she knew, who passed away in February, September, and October.

Jane acknowledged a difficult year while speaking at the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power’s EmPower Party, according to People magazine.

She also mentioned Hackman, saying, ‘He and Redford are both great. He came to support GCAPP, and we even showed a screening of Barefoot in the Park.’

Barbarella’s star also shared, ‘I recently worked with Diane Keaton, and I was really surprised by something. It hit me hard that as you get older, you see more and more people around you passing away.’

Jane Fonda shared a heartfelt statement after Robert Redford died at 89, saying she cried uncontrollably when she heard the news about her Barefoot in the Park co-star.

I was deeply saddened to learn of Bob’s passing this morning. I’m still upset and can’t stop crying. He was a wonderful person who meant so much to me, and he represented the best of American ideals – values we must continue to uphold.

The actress from ‘Coming Home’ fondly recalled her ‘Book Club’ co-star Diane Keaton, describing her as a vibrant and joyful presence, after Keaton’s passing last month at the age of 79.

She posted a photo of her friend on Instagram, expressing her difficulty believing and accepting the news of Diane’s passing.

She was a vibrant and joyful person, always able to laugh at herself and endlessly imaginative. This creativity shone through in everything she did – her acting, her style, the books she loved, the people she chose as friends, the way she decorated her homes, even her outlook on life. She was truly one of a kind, and a remarkably talented actress, though she’d probably never acknowledge it.

Jane recently made a playful comment about continuing to perform her own stunts even into her nineties. This came as she was looking back on her unusual career, which included a fifteen-year hiatus from acting.

During her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the SAG Awards in February, she expressed how much the honor meant to her, thanking SAG-AFTRA. She joked that the recognition didn’t feel like the end of her career, but rather a motivation to keep going strong, saying she wasn’t finished yet.

My career path has been quite unusual and unplanned. I initially retired for fifteen years, then unexpectedly returned to work at age 65 – something most people don’t do. I actually made one of my biggest hits later in life, in my 80s, and I even imagine I’ll be performing my own stunts in an action film when I’m in my 90s!

You’ve probably heard that it’s fine to develop at your own pace, as long as you eventually pursue your goals. Well, I’m someone who took a while to get going, and this is my chance to shine.

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2025-11-20 23:51