Jane Fonda was the toast of Hollywood this week as she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for her outstanding film career. The star was feted at the American Film Institute at a special gala in LA, attended by a who's who of famous faces who had gathered to pay tribute, including Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz.
© Photo: Getty ImagesJane Fonda posing with her award
Michael, who received the honour himself in 2009, presented Jane with the award. Speaking about his time working with the actress on 1979's The China Syndrome, he told the audience, "I learned not only is Jane an amazing actress, but she is the world's greatest multi-tasker. "She was simultaneously an actress, she was a mum, she was a fitness expert and a brave, very courageous political activist. So deep down, who really is Jane Fonda? She's one of a kind."
© Photo: Getty ImagesJane Fonda accepting her award
The actress might have been following in the footsteps of her father Henry Fonda, the sixth recipient of the award in 1978, but as Michael said, "Jane, you are true film royalty, not through birth, but through your talent."Her brother, Easy Rider star Peter Fonda, said "Jane, I've never been prouder of you, and I know Dad is too."Age-defying Jane, 76, looked incredible for her special night, dressed in a monochrome Vera Wang gown. She sat alongside her partner Richard Perry and laughed, cried and clapped accordingly as her silver screen career was celebrated.
© Photo: Getty ImagesJane made her film debut in the 1960 film Tall Story and went on to have great success in the film industry, earning seven Oscar nominations and two Academy Awards, for 1971's Klute and 1978's Coming Home.Fellow Academy Award-winner Meryl, who made her film debut opposite Jane in 1977's Julia, said of their initial meeting, "She had an almost feral alertness, like this bright blue attentiveness to everything around her."Sally Field added, "She brought this new kind of raw sexuality, of gritty innocent honesty, vulnerable to the core – and I had never seen anything like it. "There were moments of light-heartedness during the ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre, as Jane's Newsroom co-star Jeff Daniels sang a tribute to her, referencing her "abs, buns and thighs" as one of her exercise videos played on a screen behind him.Comic Wanda Sykes, meanwhile, took to the stage in a silver parody of the outfit worn by Jane in the 1968 film Barberella.As she accepted her award, Jane had some advice for the roomful of celebrities about career longevity. "Ask questions, stay curious," she said. "It's much more important to be interested than to be interesting."
