Jane Fonda‘s been a fixture of the celebrity scene for a long, long time. At 85, it’s safe to say she’s in the twilight of her career, even if she continues to work.
Yet while her advanced age and numerous health scares have left certain fans worried, the actress herself opened up about her feelings regarding death recently, insisting she is “not scared”.
Fonda has lived almost her entire life in the spotlight, and is now aiming to use her remaining time on Earth to impress upon the fact that it’s vital for celebrities to use their voices to stand up for important causes.
During an interview a few months back, the Grace and Frankie star said that she’s “not afraid of death” but knows she’ll be gone “sooner rather than later”.
In September of last year, Fonda announced that she had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Speaking candidly with Entertainment Tonight, she said: “I’m not going to be around for much longer.”
She continued: “When you get to be my age, you better be aware of the amount of time that is behind you, as opposed to in front of you. I mean, that’s just realistic.”
After announcing her cancer diagnosis, Fonda revealed that was would be undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
“So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments.
“This is a very treatable cancer. 80% of people survive, so I feel very lucky.
“I’m also lucky because I have health insurance and access to the best doctors and treatments. I realise, and it’s painful, that I am privileged in this. Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving and this is not right.”
“I’m ready,” she told ET! “I’ve had a great life.
“Not that I want to go, but I’m aware that it’s going to be sooner rather than later.”
Fortunately, Fonda responded well to her chemotherapy. In a December post on her website, the actress wrote: “Last week I was told by my oncologist that my cancer is in remission and I can discontinue chemo. I am feeling so blessed, so fortunate.“
Blessed she may be, but the 85-year-old has also insisted that she has no fear of death.
The Academy Award-winner said she feels death is an adventure, and so she’s “not scared of dying”.
“I kind of, you know… I don’t want to go – I still have a lot to do,” Fonda said during an appearance on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace.
“What I’m really scared of is getting to the end of life with a lot of regrets when there’s no time to do anything about it.”
Fonda said she has “very few regrets”, but said she “wishes” she could have been a different “kind of mother” to her children when they were younger.
“I have great, great children, talented, smart – and I I just didn’t know how to do it,” she said.
I for one will certainly miss the legendary Jane Fonda when she’s gone.
