Jane Fonda says she’s ‘not afraid of dying’ but still has one fear

Jane Fonda has never been afraid of dying, but she is afraid of drying with regrets.

The Hollywood icon, 87, opened up about her journey of accepting her mortality during her appearance on Michelle Obama’s The Look podcast, where she was joined by activist Bethann Hardison and Real Housewives of New York star Jenna Lyons.

“I’ve never been afraid of aging, and more importantly, I’m not afraid of dying,” Fonda said.

The Grace & Frankie star reflected on her 60th birthday, when she realised, “this is the beginning of my final act, and I didn’t know how to live it.”

She said that her father Henry Fonda’s death in 1982 at age 77 made her realise her true fear: dying with regrets.

“That was an important realisation for me, because if you don’t want to die with regrets, then you have to live the last part of your life in such a way that there won’t be any regrets,” Fonda reflected.

She also revealed one of her last moments with her late father on his deathbed, when she told him she loved him and forgave him for “whatever didn’t happen.”

“He didn’t say anything. But he wept… I had never seen my father break down and weep,” she admitted, adding that “it was powerful.”

After that experience, Fonda realised, “I also wanted to be surrounded by people who love me. Forgiveness comes into play, including forgiving myself. That actually has guided me in the last 30 years. I’ve been living to not have regrets.”

The Oscar-winner is just one month away from her birthday on December 21, and she’s never been happier.

She said, “The fact that I’m almost 18 is astonishing to me. And what is even more astonishing is that I’m better now. I wouldn’t go back for anything. I feel more centred, more whole, more complete. I’m very happy. Single.”

Fonda’s declaration prompted Obama to tell her, “I’m a fan of you.”