Jane Seymour Fonda, born December 21, 1937, in New York City, is an Academy Award-winning American actress, activist, and author whose career spans over six decades in film, television, and stage. The daughter of legendary actor Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Ford Seymour, and sister to actor Peter Fonda, she began her career as a fashion model before rising to prominence in the 1960s with roles in films like 'Tall Story' (1960) and 'Period of Adjustment' (1962). Her breakthrough came with films such as 'Barbarella' (1968), 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' (1969), and 'Klute' (1971), the latter earning her the first of two Academy Awards for Best Actress. Fonda's versatility extended to dramatic roles in 'Coming Home' (1978), which won her a second Oscar, and comedies like '9 to 5' (1980). She also founded the fitness video empire in the 1980s with workout tapes that sold millions, blending her acting prowess with entrepreneurial spirit.

Beyond entertainment, Fonda is renowned for her activism, particularly her outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, earning her the moniker 'Hanoi Jane' after a controversial 1972 trip to North Vietnam where she broadcast anti-war messages. This period drew significant backlash, including accusations of treason and adversarial exchanges with critics like Peter Collier. Over decades, her activism evolved to include feminism, environmentalism, and Native American rights; she founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) in 1995 and has been a vocal advocate for climate action through her Fire Drill Fridays protests starting in 2019.

Fonda's literary contributions include memoirs like 'My Life So Far' (2005) and 'What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action' (2020), reflecting on her personal growth, three marriages (to Roger Vadim, Tom Hayden, and Ted Turner), and health battles, including breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fonda's accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, seven Golden Globes (including the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021), an Emmy for her role in 'The Dollmaker' (1984), and lifetime honors like the AFI Life Achievement Award (2014) and SAG Life Achievement Award (2025). At 86, she continues to act in projects like the Netflix series 'Grace and Frankie' (2015-2022) and remains a cultural icon for blending Hollywood stardom with progressive causes.