Jane Fonda is far from finished with her fight for social justice and activism. At the 2025 SAG Awards held in Los Angeles, she received a lifetime achievement award, during which she passionately urged both Hollywood and the audience to stand up for empathy and understanding.
Introduced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who humorously acknowledged Fonda’s significant contributions to acting and her long-standing commitment to political causes, including her five arrests for environmental protests in October 2019, Fonda received a warm standing ovation as she took the stage.
Fonda emphasized the importance of empathy in the acting profession, stating, “What we, actors, create is empathy. Our job is to understand another human being so profoundly that we can touch their souls.” She challenged the notion of “woke,” defining it instead as simply caring about others.
Addressing the gathering of fellow actors, Fonda highlighted the need for compassion even towards those with differing political views. Acknowledging the potential hardships to come, she urged her colleagues to cultivate a larger community that embraces empathy and understanding. “We are gonna need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us,” she stated.
Reflecting on her early years in the 1940s and 1950s, Fonda noted a distinct cultural climate where women’s voices were often silenced, further fueling her passion for acting as a means of expression and influence. She recalled the importance of Hollywood’s resistance during tumultuous political times, citing historical social movements and encouraging her colleagues to recognize their own roles in the present moment.
As she humorously suggested that she might still be performing her own stunts in action films well into her nineties, Fonda reaffirmed her commitment to activism and community engagement. “We must not isolate. We must stay in community. We must find ways to project an inspiring message of the future,” she concluded.
Fonda’s powerful speech resonates with the ongoing struggles for social and environmental justice, inspiring others to join the fight for a better future. Her call to action is a reminder that everyone can have a part in fostering empathy and understanding, regardless of political alignment.