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Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman
Bosworth goes behind the image of an American superwoman, revealing Jane Fonda—more powerful and vulnerable than ever expected—whose struggles for high achievement, love, and successful motherhood mirror the conflicts of a generation of women. In the hands of this seasoned, tenacious biographer, the evolution of one of the century’s most controversial and successful women becomes nothing less than a great, enthralling American life. Jane Fonda emerged from a heartbreaking Hollywood family drama to become a ’60s onscreen ingénue and then an Oscar-winning actress. At the top of her game she risked all, rising against the Vietnam War and shocking the world with a trip to Hanoi. Later, while becoming one of Hollywood’s most committed feminists, she financed her husband Tom Hayden’s political career in the ’80s with exercise videos that began a fitness craze and brought in millions of dollars. Just as interesting is Fonda’s next turn, as a Stepford Wife of the Gulfstream set, marrying Ted Turner and seemingly walking away from her ideals and her career. Fonda’s is a story of the blend of deep insecurity, magnetism, bravery, and determination that fuels the most inspiring and occasionally infuriating public lives. Finally here is Fonda and all the women she’s been.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
73 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Bosworth
14 books51 followersPatricia Bosworth was an American journalist and biographer. She modeled while in college and then became an actress before turning to writing. She chronicled the lives of celebrities in magazines and books. She also wrote about her own privileged family. She was a faculty member of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 24, 2017
A LOT of work went into this biography that took the author ten years to write. I can see why, there's an incredible amount of detail about Jane's background, her parents background, their careers, (not just Jane's careers (plural) but that of her family members as well! Sometimes I felt like I was reading a bio of her father and husbands as well as her, and that's how I know this was a lot of work. This author interviewed Vietnam vets that had met Jane back in the days she was an activist against the war and many other people that played some role in her life, going back to her childhood. The book was detailed and focused on the many roles she juggled through the years; the daughter, the movie star, the producer, the activist, the girlfriend, the wife, the mom, the fitness guru. Jane worked very hard at these roles, at the same time trying to maintain her physical beauty while struggling with bulimia. The book lightly touches upon the bulimia, and I wish it had offered more in regards to how it affected her health in the long run, or how she handled it while she was pregnant. I know she suffered a lot of fractures which at one point she attributes to the bulimia, but other than that it doesn't speak much of it. I also would have liked to know more about her drug use. There was plenty of them in her house during the sixties and seventies. It mentions her pot smoking and abuse of dexetrine and her curiosity about LSD, but it didn't mention if she tried it or what her experience with it was. More detail about those things and less about the many movies and plays her father starred in would have earned it 4 stars. At any rate, the book offers a lot.
December 2, 2018
“To be a revolutionary you have to be a human being. You have to care about people who have no power.”
― Jane Fonda
My interest in Jane Fonda initially grew out of seeing her excellent HBO documentary, ‘Jane Fonda in Five Acts.’ I was genuinely impressed by her ambition, her drive, and the lengths that she went to make an impact on the world. Jane’s life, despite her privilege and many gifts, would be marred by tragedy, illness and a string of difficult relationships with men as well as women. She comes across as conflicted but driven, kind and generous but also capable of cruelty and selfishness. Throughout her career, she would personify a wide variety of characters; On screen and off.
Jane Fonda was born Jayne Seymour Fonda in New York City, New York. Her father was Henry Fonda, the great actor who created a strong, appealing image for himself as the quintessential American male; Immortalized in films such as ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘The Ox-Bow Incident.’ Her mother, Frances, was a beautiful socialite who would be in and out of mental institutions throughout her adult years. She was tormented and suffered from bi-polar disorder and would eventually take her own life; An event that would greatly affect Jane in the years to come.
Henry Fonda in particular is a central theme throughout the book. Jane idealized her father, making him a constant presence in her life. He subconsciously influenced her every decision, influenced the ways in which she viewed herself. At times it felt like Jane’s entire life revolved around pleasing her father. He comes off as a man who seems to love his children, but cannot fully verbalize his affection for them. Though, he would find ways to do so in his own intimate manner; Routinely photographing his children for example, and lending them money and support when needed. Her three marriages were also significant in her growth as a human being. It’s often mentioned that Jane’s husbands used her, but the opposite is also true; Jane used them to find and evolve into different parts of herself. Each helped her move on into the different stages of her life that have made her who she is today.
I adore Patricia Bosworth’s writing style. Material that could easily have been tedious to get through, she manages to turn into an engaging, lively narrative. She perfectly captures the counter culture of the sixties, when Jane emerges as a promising actress. The seventies, the decade in which she reinvented herself as an activist, then on to the eighties and nineties, when Jane begins to find herself. She shows a keen understanding of what makes Jane tick, and how to communicate that to the reader.
Jane Fonda is constantly evolving, reinventing herself, bettering herself, reaching for more. She is a genuine American icon who will not only be remembered for her movies, but for the larger than life personas she has adopted over the years. This, I think, is what Patricia Bosworth perfectly encapsulates in this biography, Jane’s drive and ambition, Jane’s independence and brilliance, Jane’s humanity.
― Jane Fonda
My interest in Jane Fonda initially grew out of seeing her excellent HBO documentary, ‘Jane Fonda in Five Acts.’ I was genuinely impressed by her ambition, her drive, and the lengths that she went to make an impact on the world. Jane’s life, despite her privilege and many gifts, would be marred by tragedy, illness and a string of difficult relationships with men as well as women. She comes across as conflicted but driven, kind and generous but also capable of cruelty and selfishness. Throughout her career, she would personify a wide variety of characters; On screen and off.
Jane Fonda was born Jayne Seymour Fonda in New York City, New York. Her father was Henry Fonda, the great actor who created a strong, appealing image for himself as the quintessential American male; Immortalized in films such as ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘The Ox-Bow Incident.’ Her mother, Frances, was a beautiful socialite who would be in and out of mental institutions throughout her adult years. She was tormented and suffered from bi-polar disorder and would eventually take her own life; An event that would greatly affect Jane in the years to come.
Henry Fonda in particular is a central theme throughout the book. Jane idealized her father, making him a constant presence in her life. He subconsciously influenced her every decision, influenced the ways in which she viewed herself. At times it felt like Jane’s entire life revolved around pleasing her father. He comes off as a man who seems to love his children, but cannot fully verbalize his affection for them. Though, he would find ways to do so in his own intimate manner; Routinely photographing his children for example, and lending them money and support when needed. Her three marriages were also significant in her growth as a human being. It’s often mentioned that Jane’s husbands used her, but the opposite is also true; Jane used them to find and evolve into different parts of herself. Each helped her move on into the different stages of her life that have made her who she is today.
I adore Patricia Bosworth’s writing style. Material that could easily have been tedious to get through, she manages to turn into an engaging, lively narrative. She perfectly captures the counter culture of the sixties, when Jane emerges as a promising actress. The seventies, the decade in which she reinvented herself as an activist, then on to the eighties and nineties, when Jane begins to find herself. She shows a keen understanding of what makes Jane tick, and how to communicate that to the reader.
Jane Fonda is constantly evolving, reinventing herself, bettering herself, reaching for more. She is a genuine American icon who will not only be remembered for her movies, but for the larger than life personas she has adopted over the years. This, I think, is what Patricia Bosworth perfectly encapsulates in this biography, Jane’s drive and ambition, Jane’s independence and brilliance, Jane’s humanity.
July 6, 2022
This biography caught my interest after watching Grace and Frankie (which unfortunately aired after this was published - I would have loved to read about it). I am a young adult, so I thought I did not know much about her - I was wrong. I did not realize seemingly unconnected moments spanning decades of 20th century American history were all connected to this one woman. Her ability to reinvent herself is fascinating. I liked reading about her ambition, life of activism, and life lessons she has learned (and there are quite a few). Whether you like her or not, you cannot deny she has achieved great things, from her workout videos to activism involvement and beyond.
My favorite parts of this book were the many heart wrenching micro stories of her childhood or vivid acute memories that pinpoint a personality characteristic. Her story is engaging and also sometimes stunning to realize that it is truly a real woman’s life. It has tragedy, drama, and more. I have also watched the HBO documentary “Jane Fonda in Five Acts” which I really liked because of the historic footage and format. This book is obviously much longer and has tons of more details. Almost too many… (I thought it included too much about her father, Henry Fonda. I realize he is a central influence throughout her life, but I don’t care about his extensive life history, you know.) Overall, I recommend!
My favorite parts of this book were the many heart wrenching micro stories of her childhood or vivid acute memories that pinpoint a personality characteristic. Her story is engaging and also sometimes stunning to realize that it is truly a real woman’s life. It has tragedy, drama, and more. I have also watched the HBO documentary “Jane Fonda in Five Acts” which I really liked because of the historic footage and format. This book is obviously much longer and has tons of more details. Almost too many… (I thought it included too much about her father, Henry Fonda. I realize he is a central influence throughout her life, but I don’t care about his extensive life history, you know.) Overall, I recommend!
December 27, 2016
Anyone my age knows who Jane Fonda is. Personally I didn't follow her life or celebrity because I didn't really care about her. I did remember being vaguely interested upon hearing about the "Hanoi Jane" incident but not enough to dig for it.
This boo is well written and engaging. It was an interesting read and I feel gives a fair picture of Jane as a person. If I saw the writer's name on another book I'd probably pick it up and read it because of the job she did portraying Jane in this book. It doesn't matter whether or not you like Jane Fonda; this book will give you what seems to be a fair portrait of the woman and her many accomplishments.
This boo is well written and engaging. It was an interesting read and I feel gives a fair picture of Jane as a person. If I saw the writer's name on another book I'd probably pick it up and read it because of the job she did portraying Jane in this book. It doesn't matter whether or not you like Jane Fonda; this book will give you what seems to be a fair portrait of the woman and her many accomplishments.
October 8, 2012
This book went into a little too much detail for me. (But then oddly it rushes through the time period Jane Fonda was married to Ted Turner.) Probably the most interesting part was about her trip to Vietnam and how she posed with the guns.
I read this book thinking that Jane Fonda seems very generous and intelligent, but quite gullible. And in some ways she is very business savvy, but lacks common sense. Her daughter, Vanessa, agrees with me. There is a quote in the book where she says her mom is very intelligent but rushes into decisions.
I read this book thinking that Jane Fonda seems very generous and intelligent, but quite gullible. And in some ways she is very business savvy, but lacks common sense. Her daughter, Vanessa, agrees with me. There is a quote in the book where she says her mom is very intelligent but rushes into decisions.
January 9, 2018
Patricia Bosworth has gone beyond the image of an American superwoman to reveal a Jane Fonda more powerful and vulnerable than ever expected. Fonda emerged from a heartbreaking Hollywood family drama to become a ’60s onscreen ingénue and then an Oscar-winning actress. At the top of her game she risked all, rising up against the Vietnam War and shocking the world with a trip to Hanoi. While becoming one of Hollywood’s most committed feminists, she financed her husband Tom Hayden’s political career in the ’80s with exercise videos that began a fitness craze and brought in millions of dollars. Just as interesting is Fonda’s next turn, as a Stepford Wife of the Gulfstream set, marrying Ted Turner and seemingly walking away from her ideals and her career. Fonda’s multilevel story is a blend of the deep insecurity, magnetism, bravery, and determination that has fueled her inspiring and occasionally infuriating public life.
My Thoughts: In many ways, I have followed the numerous incarnations of Jane that have been described in Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman. Her early childhood experiences, including the tragedy of her mother’s suicide when she was twelve, and also highlighting her quest for her father’s love and approval, could describe many children growing up in a world with celebrity parents. The vulnerability, accompanied by constant attention, could come to chip away at the self-confidence of anyone. The early chapters in this book were the least fascinating to me, but I did enjoy learning more about her childhood.
My interest grew as I learned more about how Jane’s early years as an actress helped her develop greater self-confidence, but which did not completely satisfy her need for love and approval.
The incarnation that captured my interest the most was how she turned to political activism as a way of coming into her own, and also became a way of expressing her unique and independent perspective. But despite those who found her articulate and knowledgeable, there were also those who focused on the media’s hatred of her visit to Hanoi during the war. The label of Hanoi Jane would follow her and threaten her for years.
Then in still another incarnation, her turn at developing her own business through the work-out tapes and the resulting empire would be followed by still another life as a tycoon’s wife.
Unexpected shifts over the years would reveal how much of Jane’s life could almost certainly be seen as a series of changes and reinvention. Fascinating and revelatory. I enjoyed this book and have awarded it 4.5 stars.
My Thoughts: In many ways, I have followed the numerous incarnations of Jane that have been described in Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman. Her early childhood experiences, including the tragedy of her mother’s suicide when she was twelve, and also highlighting her quest for her father’s love and approval, could describe many children growing up in a world with celebrity parents. The vulnerability, accompanied by constant attention, could come to chip away at the self-confidence of anyone. The early chapters in this book were the least fascinating to me, but I did enjoy learning more about her childhood.
My interest grew as I learned more about how Jane’s early years as an actress helped her develop greater self-confidence, but which did not completely satisfy her need for love and approval.
The incarnation that captured my interest the most was how she turned to political activism as a way of coming into her own, and also became a way of expressing her unique and independent perspective. But despite those who found her articulate and knowledgeable, there were also those who focused on the media’s hatred of her visit to Hanoi during the war. The label of Hanoi Jane would follow her and threaten her for years.
Then in still another incarnation, her turn at developing her own business through the work-out tapes and the resulting empire would be followed by still another life as a tycoon’s wife.
Unexpected shifts over the years would reveal how much of Jane’s life could almost certainly be seen as a series of changes and reinvention. Fascinating and revelatory. I enjoyed this book and have awarded it 4.5 stars.
July 23, 2018
The sheer resiliency of Jane Fonda made me want to read about her and this well-researched and very frank biography reveals a complex, contradictory woman who considered herself a feminist but subjugated herself to each of her husbands. She recruited prostitutes for threesomes with first husband Roger Vadim (who nonetheless comes across as a caring father and lifelong supporter of Fonda), plowed all her money into political causes for second husband Tom Hayden who was dismissive of her and unfaithful, and stopped working all together to jet around with third husband Ted Turner. Throughout her life she wrestled with the suicide of her mother, the longing of father Henry's approval and the driven desire to improve the world. She admits to naiveté in posing with a gun in North Vietnam but was proven right in her charges that the Nixon administration was lying mightily about what was happening during the war. Obsessed with her physical image she was bulimic until her 30s and into her second pregnancy. Well written and engaging, even Bosworth can't completely explain Fonda's drive and intensity which shows no sign of slowing down.
May 2, 2023
Unfortunately, I look to Jane Fonda as a role model, so of course I am disappointed in any story of her life. She has feet of clay just like everyone else only she has lived everything in public. Instead of apologizing for her life, she continues to experience it, grapple with it, challenge it, and stare it straight in its unflinching face, hoping to wring every ounce of juice from it before she goes.
This is a good companion piece to Jane's own autobiography because it clarifies a lot of the bullshit she insisted on -- taking it easy on Tom Hayden may be one of the biggest crimes against authenticity she committed in her life time...and there were many.
Life's been a struggle for Jane, but mostly because she decided not to sit in a recliner and anesthetize herself while she watched it all go by. She stepped in and danced with it, fought with, and made peace with it and that makes books like these too good to look away.
Some mediocre writing in places, but good reporting to add clarity to Jane's story.
This is a good companion piece to Jane's own autobiography because it clarifies a lot of the bullshit she insisted on -- taking it easy on Tom Hayden may be one of the biggest crimes against authenticity she committed in her life time...and there were many.
Life's been a struggle for Jane, but mostly because she decided not to sit in a recliner and anesthetize herself while she watched it all go by. She stepped in and danced with it, fought with, and made peace with it and that makes books like these too good to look away.
Some mediocre writing in places, but good reporting to add clarity to Jane's story.
July 22, 2020
Read this not long after finishing Jane's 2005 My Life So Far. My Life So Far
Bosworth's research and interviews takes us into places that either Fonda didn't want to go, or simply fulfilled a woman's curiosity about Fonda's extraordinary life. While this book was written with Fonda's permission, Bosworth doesn't sugarcoat or gloss over some of the more controversial.
Fonda has been the subject of many biographies - nearly all written by men. It's refreshing to read one written by a woman who has close knowledge of the subject and wrote in the context of Jane's legacy in American culture.
Bosworth's research and interviews takes us into places that either Fonda didn't want to go, or simply fulfilled a woman's curiosity about Fonda's extraordinary life. While this book was written with Fonda's permission, Bosworth doesn't sugarcoat or gloss over some of the more controversial.
Fonda has been the subject of many biographies - nearly all written by men. It's refreshing to read one written by a woman who has close knowledge of the subject and wrote in the context of Jane's legacy in American culture.
May 2, 2024
A detailed rich biography of one of America's most famous actresses who has forged a career lasting a long time from early 1960's to the present day. Through this isn't her autobiography, the author uses mostly interviews with many people throughout Jane's life in order to paint a contrasting person who seemed to present a different side to nearly every person she met. The author also does a good job of painting of the era from the 1960's, 1970's and onward in context for the era. It seems like Jane Fonda seemed to be a different persona every era: for example: 1960's (Model) 1970's movie star with left-wing views while the 1980's she changes into a fitness icon in middle age, etc. Really great biography of Jane Fonda.
December 23, 2020
I appreciated the documentary effort put by the author into gathering a lot of biographical details about Fonda and her family. Still, the narrative is not entirely balanced, reducing Fonda's life from the 1990s to a rather short summary. On the whole, it is rather bland and doesn't add anything really new or surprising to Fonda'a autobiography, which quoted copiously in the book. So, if you are interested in her life, I would say it is better to read "My life so far" - sam information and more insight.
April 24, 2023
I wanted to get a better perspective of Jane Fonda by reading about her life and what molded her to become the polarizing woman that she was/is. I gained an understanding and feel sorry for her but do not admire her. Unfortunately, I believe that she squandered her talent and subsumed her life to one man after another. Her poor choice to go to North Vietnam earned her the nickname "Hanoi Jane" and she allowed herself to be used once again with devastating impact not only to herself but to many veterans.
June 20, 2020
Smart well-researched biography of one of the most acclaimed and controversial show business figures of our time. Bosworth knew Jane Fonda for many years before she wrote the book - they were fellow students at the Actors Studio in the early 1960s - but she applies the same high standards she brought to earlier books about Montgomery Clift and Diane Arbus.
It is a good companion volume to Fonda’s excellent autobiography ‘My Life So Far.’
It is a good companion volume to Fonda’s excellent autobiography ‘My Life So Far.’
November 1, 2021
I was surprised by this book, not being the biggest fan of Jane Fonda -- I actually developed a respect for her radical phase in the seventies. Bosworth has tremendous access, including too many lurid NSFW details I'm going to try and wipe from my brain forever. The reason she got this access was probably because the book is in no way uncritical or really, all that analytical, about Fonda's life. Her traumatic childhood is dealt the most depth and once the book moves past the 1970s, it's highly possible to stop caring.
May 7, 2022
I really wanted to like this book. The writing and the insight were easy to fall into but this book REALLY needed a better editor. So many typos and throwaway details that are seemingly out of left field and never expanded on.
I had to put it down halfway through. I just kept having to reread passages to understand the point :/
Shame because the writing and vivid description were there just clearly lacking a good edit.
I had to put it down halfway through. I just kept having to reread passages to understand the point :/
Shame because the writing and vivid description were there just clearly lacking a good edit.
April 30, 2023
just couldn’t finish it….
After days and days of reading, I was still not even halfway through. I swear, every thought and feeling Jane Fonda has ever had was expressed ad nauseam in the book. While she may be an interesting woman, she’s not quite that unique or fascinating. I was just left with a feeling of sorrow for her but with an appreciation of what she has survived - whether self-induced or otherwise.
After days and days of reading, I was still not even halfway through. I swear, every thought and feeling Jane Fonda has ever had was expressed ad nauseam in the book. While she may be an interesting woman, she’s not quite that unique or fascinating. I was just left with a feeling of sorrow for her but with an appreciation of what she has survived - whether self-induced or otherwise.
March 23, 2018
It is well written. The author is obviously a fan and shares Fonda's views re Vietnam--ignoring any wrong doing by N. Vietnam. However, she has quotes by many people, including Jane. It is interesting and quite sad in many ways. I am not a Fonda fan, but she is talented. She also survived some very tough times.
February 16, 2021
I read this book a few chapters at a time, which is why it took me so long to finish it. Regardless of your feelings about Jane Fonda, when all is said and done, she is a very impressive woman, who was given a lot, but also suffered and worked hard throughout her life, both personally and professionally - interesting read!
August 23, 2018
So good. Filled in a lot of the historical context (and gaps in the timeline!!) from Jane’s autobiography. A really interesting look at Jane’s life and what she both as a symbol and as an actual person meant to the world and people around her. We continue to stan.
Read
August 29, 2019Considering I have always liked some of Jane's films, I found the book very interesting. It helped me gain more insight about her. I'm glad she and her siblings made peace with Henry before he passed. I had no idea both she and her late brother have/had both been married 3X.
September 6, 2023
I could not put it down. I actually was set to read another book and just started fooling around with this and suddenly, boom I was committed. I credit a combination of the subject and the author. Patricia Bosworth is a great biographer.
A complicated, admirable and often maddening woman.
A complicated, admirable and often maddening woman.
May 10, 2020
I learned a great deal about an iconic actress. She had an interesting life. I felt that, at times, the author's writing was clunky and burdensome.
August 13, 2020
Very detailed but kinda boring. I guess I like my biographies a little more gossipy a la Kitty Kelly.
June 1, 2023
3.5⭐️
Read
November 20, 2024Yet another bio of Jane Fonda. Very unnecessary.
January 7, 2012
It took me awhile but at 2:18 A.M. I finally finished Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman by Patricia Bosworth. It's a very thick book. I thought I would be able to finish it sooner, but life hit me. Having said that, this book is awesome. When it was all over I learned TOO much about Jane Fonda's sex life. While I'm reading it, I'm wondering when did this woman have time to act?
I've seen one of her movies, Nine to Five, and that was the extent of my Jane Fonda knowledge. I had heard of her anti-war stance during the Vietnam War, but wasn't really knowledgeable about it. I've seen Yours, Mine, and Ours, starring her father Henry Fonda, and that was the extent of my knowledge about him. After reading this book, he comes off as a cold, controlling, jerk. A jerk who loved his family, but had problems showing it.
Looking at celebrities, one could think they have it all. Money, power, and fame. How can those things be problematic. Jane Fonda was born into privilege, but affection was lacking in her family. Her father didn't care to truly understand his wife, Frances Fonda, who suffered from mental problems. He seemed to only acknowledge problems when they interfered with his career. Above all, his career was paramount. Jane Fonda seemed to have no emotional connection to her mother, but desperately wanted one with her father. She was always seeking not just his love but his approval (even as an adult). Her mother started Jane on her obsession with weight and body image.
Frances Fonda wound up committing suicide in a pretty graphic manner. Just before Frances had been pleading with her children to come to her. Peter Fonda gave into his mother, but Jane refused. She stayed upstairs, ignoring her mother's pleas. I found that odd and extremely uncaring. With parents like these wouldn't you strive to break the cycle? She was only 12, but made a very adult decision to ignore her mother.
As an adult, Jane Fonda had numerous relationships with men who wanted to control and exploit her. In all of her long-term relationships, the men seemed to have ulterior motives. Maybe they were subtle. Or maybe she was so in love, she ignored all the bad stuff. Her first husband, Roger Vadim, was always in debt. She poured a lot of money into the relationship. He shaped her into the actress she is today, but it was years before Jane broke free. It was around this time she became an anti-war activist. It was at this point where I lost some of the sympathy I had for Jane Fonda. She got out of a bad marriage, but left her daughter, Vanessa, behind to "find" herself. She went on a long tour protesting the Vietnam War. She's doing exactly what her parents did to her. Putting a career or in this case activism ahead of your child, something her daughter was angry about for years (Fonda confessed she thinks Vanessa is still angry to this day). You constantly seek your father's love and approval, but do nothing to avoid repeating his mistakes. Her son Troy, born during her second marriage, got more of her love and attention. She took him just about everywhere on her activist journey. Why put one child above the other?
Her second husband, Tom Hayden, turned her into a full-time activist and part-time actress. The acting roles she took during their marriage, which turned out to be some of her best, had to express a political message of some kind. Most of the money she earned at this time went towards funding his aspirations. Jane Fonda's career and reputation took a hit during the activist years. Henry Fonda, ever the lovable guy, didn't always agree with her politics because it also reflected negatively on his career.
The book is broken up into four sections, daughter, actress, movie star/sex symbol, and workout guru/tycoon wife. The "daughter" part was fascinating because it broke down the psyche of the Fonda family. The actress part of Jane Fonda was always wondering if her father thought she was good enough. The movie star/sex symbol part was a bit much for me. Who knew she had threesomes during her marriage to Vadim? Who knew she had relationships with gay men? It's a little more than I ever wanted to know, but kudos to Patricia Bosworth for being so detailed. I do wish the workout guru/tycoon wife part had been a little longer. Yes I wish a 500+ page book had been longer. Her marriage to Ted Turner seems like a footnote compared to the detail to about the other two. But that could also be because of confidentiality issues. Maybe Ted Turner didn't want to much detail out there, but again snippets of their sex life was included!!
There are so many layers to Jane Fonda. A flawed woman with a lot of issues, but Bosworth does her justice.
Rating: O.M.G.!!!
Note: I received a copy of the book from Authors On The Web in exchange for an honest review.
I've seen one of her movies, Nine to Five, and that was the extent of my Jane Fonda knowledge. I had heard of her anti-war stance during the Vietnam War, but wasn't really knowledgeable about it. I've seen Yours, Mine, and Ours, starring her father Henry Fonda, and that was the extent of my knowledge about him. After reading this book, he comes off as a cold, controlling, jerk. A jerk who loved his family, but had problems showing it.
Looking at celebrities, one could think they have it all. Money, power, and fame. How can those things be problematic. Jane Fonda was born into privilege, but affection was lacking in her family. Her father didn't care to truly understand his wife, Frances Fonda, who suffered from mental problems. He seemed to only acknowledge problems when they interfered with his career. Above all, his career was paramount. Jane Fonda seemed to have no emotional connection to her mother, but desperately wanted one with her father. She was always seeking not just his love but his approval (even as an adult). Her mother started Jane on her obsession with weight and body image.
Frances Fonda wound up committing suicide in a pretty graphic manner. Just before Frances had been pleading with her children to come to her. Peter Fonda gave into his mother, but Jane refused. She stayed upstairs, ignoring her mother's pleas. I found that odd and extremely uncaring. With parents like these wouldn't you strive to break the cycle? She was only 12, but made a very adult decision to ignore her mother.
As an adult, Jane Fonda had numerous relationships with men who wanted to control and exploit her. In all of her long-term relationships, the men seemed to have ulterior motives. Maybe they were subtle. Or maybe she was so in love, she ignored all the bad stuff. Her first husband, Roger Vadim, was always in debt. She poured a lot of money into the relationship. He shaped her into the actress she is today, but it was years before Jane broke free. It was around this time she became an anti-war activist. It was at this point where I lost some of the sympathy I had for Jane Fonda. She got out of a bad marriage, but left her daughter, Vanessa, behind to "find" herself. She went on a long tour protesting the Vietnam War. She's doing exactly what her parents did to her. Putting a career or in this case activism ahead of your child, something her daughter was angry about for years (Fonda confessed she thinks Vanessa is still angry to this day). You constantly seek your father's love and approval, but do nothing to avoid repeating his mistakes. Her son Troy, born during her second marriage, got more of her love and attention. She took him just about everywhere on her activist journey. Why put one child above the other?
Her second husband, Tom Hayden, turned her into a full-time activist and part-time actress. The acting roles she took during their marriage, which turned out to be some of her best, had to express a political message of some kind. Most of the money she earned at this time went towards funding his aspirations. Jane Fonda's career and reputation took a hit during the activist years. Henry Fonda, ever the lovable guy, didn't always agree with her politics because it also reflected negatively on his career.
The book is broken up into four sections, daughter, actress, movie star/sex symbol, and workout guru/tycoon wife. The "daughter" part was fascinating because it broke down the psyche of the Fonda family. The actress part of Jane Fonda was always wondering if her father thought she was good enough. The movie star/sex symbol part was a bit much for me. Who knew she had threesomes during her marriage to Vadim? Who knew she had relationships with gay men? It's a little more than I ever wanted to know, but kudos to Patricia Bosworth for being so detailed. I do wish the workout guru/tycoon wife part had been a little longer. Yes I wish a 500+ page book had been longer. Her marriage to Ted Turner seems like a footnote compared to the detail to about the other two. But that could also be because of confidentiality issues. Maybe Ted Turner didn't want to much detail out there, but again snippets of their sex life was included!!
There are so many layers to Jane Fonda. A flawed woman with a lot of issues, but Bosworth does her justice.
Rating: O.M.G.!!!
Note: I received a copy of the book from Authors On The Web in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2019
Jane Fonda is a complicated woman, which this book captures well. The author's voice is non-judgemental, but she imbues enough of her own points of view on Fonda's decisions to prevent the text from ever veering into obituary-neutral territory, especially to a still living star. Would recommend.
May 25, 2013
Excellent biography about one of the best actresses of the 60s, a trailblazer and perpetual truth seeker who redefined stardom, especially for women. To Jane, it was never enough just to be a famous actress, though it was hard enough to achieve that, even with Henry Fonda for a father; once her consciousness was raised (in her late 20s, as it was with many of her generation), she had a burning desire to change the world in an era of revolution and political chaos.
Like the author of this book, I found myself wishing Jane had given more attention to her film career. Ms. Bosworth has known her subject for 50 years, and seen her move through a dizzying number of incarnations, from Actors Studio darling to international sex symbol, double Oscar winner, vilified political activist (she won a lawsuit against the Nixon administration for their hugely successful campaign to demonize her, then refused the settlement money), exercise guru (where she made the bulk of her fortune), and trophy wife to a Republican billionaire. The one constant has been her raw talent as a dramatic performer, inherited from an emotionally distant father, with whom she fought a lifelong battle for connection. Forever in competition with the specter of his success, while simultaneously desperately seeking his approval, she's consistently shown two qualities that are vital to all great actors: an almost frightening ability to remake herself, over and over, at will, and a childlike naïveté that every performer needs to make a pretend world come alive onscreen. Jane was always at her best when she was creating a character for the camera, while her boundless energy and naïveté worked against her as an activist for a cause.
Since I'm a filmmaker myself, I wanted more information about the specific movies she worked on, some of which were among the most important and influential of the 70s, and her creative process and the workings of her production company, but Bosworth is very good at exploring Jane's psychology and offers real insight into the arc of her private life as a daughter (of a mother whose mental illness drove her to suicide), a serial wife, and a mother-stepmother-grandmother, juggling the roles of business executive and movie producer. It's a life considerably fuller than the one led by most people of any background, and fascinating almost by default, but Bosworth does a fine job of outlining a meaningful overview.
Like the author of this book, I found myself wishing Jane had given more attention to her film career. Ms. Bosworth has known her subject for 50 years, and seen her move through a dizzying number of incarnations, from Actors Studio darling to international sex symbol, double Oscar winner, vilified political activist (she won a lawsuit against the Nixon administration for their hugely successful campaign to demonize her, then refused the settlement money), exercise guru (where she made the bulk of her fortune), and trophy wife to a Republican billionaire. The one constant has been her raw talent as a dramatic performer, inherited from an emotionally distant father, with whom she fought a lifelong battle for connection. Forever in competition with the specter of his success, while simultaneously desperately seeking his approval, she's consistently shown two qualities that are vital to all great actors: an almost frightening ability to remake herself, over and over, at will, and a childlike naïveté that every performer needs to make a pretend world come alive onscreen. Jane was always at her best when she was creating a character for the camera, while her boundless energy and naïveté worked against her as an activist for a cause.
Since I'm a filmmaker myself, I wanted more information about the specific movies she worked on, some of which were among the most important and influential of the 70s, and her creative process and the workings of her production company, but Bosworth is very good at exploring Jane's psychology and offers real insight into the arc of her private life as a daughter (of a mother whose mental illness drove her to suicide), a serial wife, and a mother-stepmother-grandmother, juggling the roles of business executive and movie producer. It's a life considerably fuller than the one led by most people of any background, and fascinating almost by default, but Bosworth does a fine job of outlining a meaningful overview.
October 12, 2018
A great companion piece to Jane’s own My Life So Far. An exhaustive account of a fascinating woman that sadly skips much of her self proclaimed ‘final act.’
November 6, 2011
Patricia Bosworth has definitely done her homework in this well-written and researched book about Jane Fonda. Bosworth has delved into the psychological aspects of Fonda's life and written not only about her acting and activist careers but her insecurities and foibles.
Jane Fonda's childhood was not the privileged one the public thinks a child of a famous actor (Henry Fonda) would have but one full of determination to please her cold, unemotional father and rejection of her mother. Her mother commits suicide and this combined with her father's seeming constant disapproval forms Jane into the woman she becomes.
Jane first married Roger Vadim, who molded her into the sex kitten and superstar actress she became. Her second marriage was to Tom Hayden who seems only to want her money. Ted Turner actively pursued Jane until she married him.
Career-wise, Jane has acted and no one who grew up in the sixties can forget Hanoi Jane. Jane visited North Vietnam while the US was at war with them and sat on anti-aircraft guns for a picture and talked to POWs. She was vilified at the time and received death threats. She has since helped many activist organizations.
Next was her career as workout guru. This has been a bonanza that continues to this day.
This book brought Jane to life and gave an insight into her which was very interesting. It is a very large book and at times I did find it a bit sluggish but this is probably due to the shear volume of Jane's achievements. I wonder if because Jane has not been in the limelight for a number of years whether this book will appeal to those who are younger.
Jane is a bundle of energy who never stops. She is constantly in motion and has more careers than anyone would have in several lifetimes. Unfortunately throughout her life she sometimes does things without thinking through the consequences and that gets her into a great deal of difficulty.
Jane Fonda's childhood was not the privileged one the public thinks a child of a famous actor (Henry Fonda) would have but one full of determination to please her cold, unemotional father and rejection of her mother. Her mother commits suicide and this combined with her father's seeming constant disapproval forms Jane into the woman she becomes.
Jane first married Roger Vadim, who molded her into the sex kitten and superstar actress she became. Her second marriage was to Tom Hayden who seems only to want her money. Ted Turner actively pursued Jane until she married him.
Career-wise, Jane has acted and no one who grew up in the sixties can forget Hanoi Jane. Jane visited North Vietnam while the US was at war with them and sat on anti-aircraft guns for a picture and talked to POWs. She was vilified at the time and received death threats. She has since helped many activist organizations.
Next was her career as workout guru. This has been a bonanza that continues to this day.
This book brought Jane to life and gave an insight into her which was very interesting. It is a very large book and at times I did find it a bit sluggish but this is probably due to the shear volume of Jane's achievements. I wonder if because Jane has not been in the limelight for a number of years whether this book will appeal to those who are younger.
Jane is a bundle of energy who never stops. She is constantly in motion and has more careers than anyone would have in several lifetimes. Unfortunately throughout her life she sometimes does things without thinking through the consequences and that gets her into a great deal of difficulty.
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