Jane Fonda Talks About Her Mother’s Suicide: 'It Has A Big Impact On Your Sense Of Self' | PeopleTV

The Oscar winner looks back on the difficult years of her childhood.
Subscribe to PeopleTV ►► bit.ly/SubscribePeopleTV
People and Entertainment Weekly, two of the world's leading entertainment brands bring you PeopleTV. Watch everyday for free and get exclusive insider access to celebrities, pop culture, entertainment, lifestyle and human interest shows.
Watch the newest celebrity interviews - From Jennifer Lopez to Jennifer Lawrence, Pop Stars to Movie Stars, Bachelors to Real Housewives, we’ve got it all:
kzbin.info?list=P...
Stay on top of all the latest celebrity gossip - Scandals, news, rumors and more:
kzbin.info?list=P...
Celebrity love, romance and relationships - Never miss out on who’s dating who, recent break ups and new hook ups:
kzbin.info?list=P...
Celebrity style, fashion icons, outfit fails and the best dressed - Check out everything from Gigi Hadid’s legendary outfits to Eva Longoria’s timeless style:
kzbin.info?list=P...
Get all access to A-list events, award shows and parties - Who wore what, which awards were won, and was there any drama:
kzbin.info?list=P...
No matter if you’re into Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber, we’ve got some of the best live performances right here:
kzbin.info?list=P...
Keep up with the Kardashians - get the latest on Kim & Kanye, and the rest of the hottest celebrity family around:
kzbin.info?list=P...
CONNECT WITH
Web: peopletv.com/
Twitter: / peopletv
Facebook: / peopletvnetwork
Instagram: / peopletv
Google+: po.st/GooglePeople
ABOUT PEOPLE
PEOPLE is the #1 online news source all things pop culture. Get your fix of the hottest celebrity news, celebrity gossip, celebrity interviews, exclusive stories, red carpet events, style and updates from the world of entertainment, involving your favorite stars.
Jane Fonda Talks About Her Mother’s Suicide: 'It Has A Big Impact On Your Sense Of Self' | PeopleTV
/ people

[@BeachPeach2010]

Louise Hay said "We are all the victims of victims"....very profound.

[@Pfsif]

Victims turned abusers.

[@trinahorton8839]

"A child always thinks it's their fault. A child can't blame an adult. They depend on them for survival." The truest words ever spoken. Think about this if you have kids or might ever have kids...or if you ever were one.

[@angelicagonzalez151]

Totally true

[@tylerharris4392]

i will in sure that i wont

[@walterkersting9922]

Self pity much?

[@connievino4226]

Exactly.

[@variousJnames]

So glad she discovered the freedom of knowing her parent's struggles and pain had nothing to do with her. She has overcome so much pain as a result. Thankful she was so open to tell her story🙏🏼

[@traces2807]

I love Jane Fonda, she just seems like a genuinely nice person.

[@Jocelyn_Jade]

kenneth boss Go away.

[@uncountedsurvivor9409]

I was once her bellman. She was very charming.

[@nicolatesla5786]

My great Uncle Directed her in Cat Balue

[@JMB189]

Mrs. Fonda , I also lost my mother in same circumstances, it’s heart breaking , I was 14, Only people who have gone through this kind of caos can understand what it takes to overcome such a great loss. Blessings from 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico.🌹

[@keepingitreal5533]

Sorry for that. Be strong 💙

[@ethergal7311]

Josefina Morales you aren’t alone in that. I was 7 and my sister was 14. I send you much love and healing from NJ.

[@JMB189]

I also have a Sister who at that time was 5 years younger than me. We are resilient woman, 57 & 52 years old , but that wound still hurts, Blessings for you too.

[@mmess8585]

So sad! Suicide always impacts the family in the most heartbreaking way!

[@Birdbike719]

Its not just if youre a child. You feel the guilt no matter what age you are. I was 49 when my mother took her own life. I still sometimes wonder if I could have done something it would have made a difference.

[@cynthusinfinite]

Thank you Jane Fonda. Your words help others.

[@mississippimud7046]

My mother died when I was 12 and I will always mourn what could have been .

[@FriendofDorothy]

no wonder there is something about Jane that always strikes me as being an over-achiever, always trying too hard to be "perfect". the fitness, body, the hair, the success in movies, the wealth... and the absolute shitload of pain this woman has had to endure and process in her life. I guess that's why I like her so much; she TRIES so damn hard to overcome it all, but she lets the dark cat out of the bag over and over in interviews and I'm sure in her memoir. It is not so much the strong, intelligent, successful woman about her that is so charismatic, as how that clashes like thunder with a past and a family history that was anything but perfect. She is truly a study in contrasts; there is something of the broken girl about her despite her monumental, solid as granite success and rather awe-provoking status as a person and actress.

[@deborahrose8621]

You said that beautifully. She also sued the Executive Office who harassed het and won. That's amazing.

[@FriendofDorothy]

@@deborahrose8621 I was a little young and distracted with college when all that was going down. I fully support veterans as my dad was a vet, an amputee and Purple Heart recipient, but I confess to not knowing all the aggrieving details of what elicited the Vietnam vets' wrath and still does. I do feel like I share similar scars of familial dysfunction with her and thus feel like I would be entirely comfortable chatting with her. Despite her extremely impressive, almost daunting exterior there is something quite human and easy to relate to about her. We all screw up sometimes in life, but we must dust ourselves off, get up, and go on. I also can relate to trying very hard to achieve and accomplish, especially if you suffered a lot of family drama or emotional abuse as a kid as such can easily leave one feeling defective and never quite good enough. Such a child grows up with an awful lot to prove as an adult. I am so glad she has such a friend as Lily Tomlin, who I suspect understands her in more than a superficial way.

[@DivineSimply]

And it isn't just her stuff with her mother, but also her emotionally unavailable, unaffectionate, remote father. Henry had a lot of problems, including not being able to express love, or any other deep feeling. Just ask his 5 ex-wives. Probably why he acted so well, it was a safe outlet for what he couldn't do personally. Jane never felt any love or affection from him, and all her compulsive achieving, wealth, driving ambition, relentless need for the spotlight and always publicly announcing herself, even on her private thoughts and feelings, like in this video, is Jane still looking for Daddy's attention and approval. I've seen countless interviews, even contemporary ones, where she still gets teary and choked-up when she talks about him There's still so much longing and pain, and even anger. The Daddy Stuff is strong for a girl. And I know all about it. My dad killed himself with a bottle of pills when I was 3 years old.

[@lynnmarieanderson1744]

And all this time I never knew her mom died by suicide. It has to be hard for her to talk about it. She's an amazing person.

[@christinesharland8478]

Yes i was 13 my mum was in mental institution then killed herself with tablet overdose, I didnt get counselling and did appallingly at school , but i constantly try to improve my self and my listening skills WE need more help for children who have suffered this.......its devastating and like Jane, im an older lady now but some of that stays with you....Kids desparately need to know they are not alone......

[@garylysaght1579]

Succinct, accurate and enobling. Thank you x

[@amyhart3760]

The same thing happened to my mom. I’d love to talk to anyone who shares this pain. When you said you never really understood your mom.. that hit me. ❤️‍🩹

[@Tuie1956]

I never knew her mother did that to herself. America loves you Jane so keep up your wonderful self.

[@flufftronable]

Susan Fleming its a big part of her life, she’s spoken about it a lot 😰

[@drea2228]

I feel bad that her mom killed herself but don’t lie, A LOT of America despises Jane Fonda.

[@lemurianchick]

@@drea2228 Only the knuckle-draggers. She protested an unjusted war. The morons who hate her would rather have rah rah people encouraging young men to die in Viet Nam? Idiots. The anger should be placed squarely on those who fomented an unnecessary war that led to incredible carnage on both sides.

[@sharonmarinucci1881]

curragh 42. 🇺🇸💯👍

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

@@lemurianchick she's an anti American, communist to this day! I pity on the mother's suffering, but I loathe Jane.

[@jakecorynthian3516]

I admire her honesty and self-insight 👍🏽

[@suey8227]

Jane Fonda - one of my favourite people : )

[@missychase3014]

Suey she is a traitor! Real pos.

[@lemurianchick]

@@missychase3014 Hey hillbilly, why is someone a traitor who pointed out that the Viet Nam War was WRONG as it was going on? You are the type with the yellow fucking magnets that say "Support our troops" and THEY come home and kill themselves because of the atrocities they committed over in the Middle East because they were encouraged by assholes like you to join illegal, immoral wars.

[@alexisnewell3672]

Sad.. Janes mum committed suicide n her father was a difficult towards her .. So true Jane as children we blame ourselves re parents faiures can carry it on to adult hood gteat interview thsnku🌷🌷

[@susanbehring3401]

Thank you for sharing!

[@alwashington8364]

Heartbreaking. First of all DAM GIRL YOU LOOKS GOOD 😍👍 I never knew you had that to struggle with so thanks for giving me some insight on how to deal

[@shiffault]

As someone who lost his mom the same way I think its really important to understand that as a child its normal to assume that the person committing suicide didn't love you or you were unlovable but that's wrong. Suicide has nothing to do with you and more so with what the person doing it is feeling at the moment 💗💗💗

[@moicecibon4768]

Jane you’re an inspiration

[@YTfancol]

Beautiful interview

[@stacyhackney6100]

They're (Jane and her Mom) both so beautiful. Her poor mother. Sick, with a crumbling marriage. That's a devastating combination. I read Jane's book and loved it. I like where she spoke about Ted giving her a family foundation as a, I think, birthday present. That's where I first remember learning such foundations existed.

[@donnawoodford6641]

Good that Jane corrected stated "killed herself". So many people incorrectly say "committed" suicide, whereas it may be best to say "died by" suicide. Suicide Prevention Helpline phone number is 800-273-TALK in U.S. In many ways Jane is a role model who bravely excavates the facts, and deals directly with them. 💜

[@deborahrose8621]

Jane has an extraordinary command of language both in written snd verbal form. She is and has always been as far from politically correct imaginable. She chose those words for accuracy and mpact. That's why she is Jane Fonda and everyone else is not.

[@alazjaw.8968]

@@deborahrose8621she actually has always been politically correct

[@Jonathanbroder]

Jane is pretty amazing and I won't scroll much beyond this because I'm sure the morons who love to label her Hanoi Jane have commented below. For those people, the problem lies with them, and their own anger. Not Jane. Jane has does a pretty good job with her life (and her money) and is highly respectable. (And she still looks FABulous.)

[@johnkentfl3491]

Jane you are beautiful and wonderful

[@karishort7561]

Still so beautiful inside and out ❤

[@GaGaBjork1996]

profound. thank you Jane.

[@sissi8610]

Poor Jane. I just researched childhood emotional neglect, there are some great videos out there. I saw Jane Fonda cry once when she recalled being with Dolly Parton, and her family, and the love these people had for each other. Jane never had that. And that is why she cried, for sure. If a mum is too messed up to bond with the baby, and too messed up to acknowledge the child, and it's feelings, thoughts, etc, if that doesn't happen, there is attachment trauma. And you can just see it in Jane. She intellectually knows that she is lovable, totally lovable, but it still doesn't help. Because the feelings from so long ago shaped her brain a certain way, and there is scientific evidence for that now, so it is almost impossible for her to ever feel like Dolly Parton, who grew up in a large, materially poor family, where love and support were flowing freely. The rich poor child versus the poor, but loved and totally supported child, who is going to be happier? I wish Jane Fonda a fountain of happiness and love, and maybe she has to tell a lot of people to f.. off in order to achieve that. I don't know. Maybe accounts of Near Death Experiencers will help, they all say that God loves us so much, each one of us, warts and all, maybe that will help her.

[@deborahrose8621]

Yoh had a lot of good things to say but the epithet Poor Jane was demeaning. There is nothing poor about this incredible woman. And she is a rich rich woman who is self aware, not a victim of intellectually versus emotional knowledge. Her extraordinary acting and lifelong achievement is a testament to that. Jane developed empathy which is why she can authentically feel the richness of love in Dolly Parton's family who were once dirt poor yet are obviously no longer. We don't need to be sheltered from life's lessons, we need to embrace them and allow the metamorphosis to happen. Jane and Dolly came to the same place in time from 2 different directions. That's a cool story.

[@daisyjeffs]

@@deborahrose8621 I believe Sissi is just expressing sympathy for Jane's experience, not attempting to demean her .

[@laurah6381]

Sissi childhood emotional neglect is a real thing! Thank you for explaining it. I'm going to research it, as I've always felt that my mother gave me a clean house, clean clothes, dinner every night, but she failed to give me anything emotionally!! 😭

[@sissi8610]

@@laurah6381 check out Dr Jonice Webb on KZbin, I listened to her video the other day, also Lisa A Romano, she helped me a lot. All the best!

[@deborahrose8621]

@@daisyjeffs maybe demeaning is a bit strong. I felt good intentions in her post. And there were valuable points made. Maybe "poor Jane" and referring to her as poor rich girl was diminishing especially in the case of Jane who is not pitiful or stunted by her experiences

[@patodaful]

Wise woman!

[@valentinahernandez7291]

I love Jane Fonda. I'm sorry that she had to go through so much when she was a child, not really having anyone to give her that unconditional love that all children need to feel truly cared for and secure. And she reminded me so much of a little girl as she was talking about her pain...very sad.

[@kathrynlabrecque3286]

When a man doesn't love the mother of his children, and leaves her for a mistress half his age...he doesn't love his kids either. Especially committing his betrayed wife to an Asylum to get rid of her! He is a step above a murderer!

[@kathrynlabrecque3286]

I believe Jane Fonda's son...Jane said she didn't know her mother at 12. Her dad was cheating on her mother and then committed her mother to an Asylum. Her mother was devastated from her womanizer husband Henry. Jane and Peter Never admit that ever! Their mother knew her own children believed their father's lies against her. So she was driven to commit suicide from the ultimate betrayal and heartbreak. Doesn't take years of research to know your father got rid of your mother to run off with his mistress half his age. Henry Fonda was a NARCISSISTIC BASTARD and 1 step above murderer. Jane and Peter did know the truth eventually as truth was revealed. They did contribute and never admit their Dad committed their mother to an Asylum to get rid of her! Deep down they knew the Truth!

[@kathrynlabrecque3286]

When I was 12 and in 7th grade and my mother accused and fought with my father for cheating, then my father committed her to an Asylum. I would have known it was foul play against my mother. Jane was not very smart for 12. Or to this day even all of her years researching....she is still dumb! She new her father treated her mother bad, I believe she did too. Jane and Henry favored their father...and I believe they joined in on abusing their mother justifying their father against their mother. That's why they lie about her.

[@louiseguthrie642]

Unfortunately if a person's mum takes her own life, sometimes a child can be hated by some of the relatives after it. Not everyone who has had a mum die like that would feel comfortable to discuss it like that

[@gerardicosas]

#LEGEND

[@somepeoplecallmemaurice6492]

My Mother took her life in September 2018... I am a little girl now..... i have regressed... i am 34yr. old child.... thats how I feel... I LOVE MY MOMMA! Tracy Michele' Gasca ... # AlfredtheAloePlant is a-o-k 💞

[@deeadams7885]

I admire you Jane,, my wish is to meet you one day,, I watch Grace and Frankie every day,, you are amazing and please never forget it.

[@lalalaland5291]

She is so beautiful

[@pb4hand]

What documentary is he talking about?

[@dawrongwitch9036]

"Jane fonda in 5 acts"

[@sherrypatrick2658]

In some pictures her mom is smiling and Jane in the background is not.

[@asanta2023]

Yes, but it seems her mother’s smile is tense, imo. It almost feels like Jane can feel her mother’s sadness.

[@kendrabethune4733]

thanks for the jane fonda interview when i got checked 3 times for eating disorder and jess cagle know about my dad's father who never wanted his legal grandkids justin bethune and i my brother by blood i see jane fonda now

[@vidya2065]

My mother was also suffer from depression and anxiety and she done suicide just 12 days ago.

[@christinenace9212]

I love her!

[@Crzybinet]

Poor lady

[@mustardseed308]

Never knew that.wow

[@eileenmacdougall8945]

Jane is such a strong talented woman.

[@alexandraalberti5029]

I like her shirt!!!

[@Support4MySingers]

That picture of her mother looks disturbing as hell. :-(

[@kathysimpson8844]

Sharon Dover

[@justicewillprevail1106]

I was 25 when my father took his. I’ve never been the same since.

[@asanta2023]

Im so sorry 🌹

[@TheGeraldinea]

Grace and Frankie 7 season please.

[@user-gi3fk3rn9n]

My mentally ill husband is ruining my son's life and my other son was abused by my husband my poor Bradley Florida keeps kids in danger

[@sm3296]

Wish I could give her a hug. Jane you were and still are lovable.

[@atis9061]

She got her looks from her mother. Her mother had no support. That was up to her father.

[@micheladerry5681]

she had a difficult youth

[@jimbeam4140]

For everyone that likes Henry Fonda - please explain to me how you can like someone who cheated on his very sick wife with a 19 year old when you have two teenaged kids? The level of callousness and lack of humanity to do something like that is beyond belief.I don't give a shit what he went through as a child. That's inexcusable and goes a long way to explaining the suicide.

[@alarahillton1343]

Many have suffered what she suffered. And people in your home town thought your parents were great. When they ruined your life. This is not the planet where the together people come. She does not mention faith in this interview, but for me it’s everything. Those of us who had no mother or parent mirroring back the love and being emotionally present and interested will never truly be ok, even after years of therapy. We try to be ok or compensate, but nothing will ever heal us. Only Jesus. Pray for all the children. They really need it.

[@cynthiaclark9566]

Hanoi Jane. Monster

[@tracyjones550]

Jane's fonders dad

[@robingronwald7993]

Til today Jane Fonda is the only person I would salute straight

[@pattyajones]

Stop blaming yourself for a family member's suicide. Its all on "them" . Your pain is self-administered.

[@carlos7najarro]

Her mother couldn’t stand her that’s why!!!

[@liloleist5133]

Happiness doesn't come from the clothes you wear, it comes from jumping off the band wagon of vanity.

[@leonardl9921]

Public enemy number 1

[@tyxikosgatpopoulos4004]

I wouldn't believe a word that woman says. A self serving egomaniac.

[@CDN1975]

Jane Fonda is despicable but I feel for her having to live in the shadow of her mother's suicide.

[@alazjaw.8968]

I bet you do

[@randykirkland3927]

I see nothing but a traitor here.

[@exf15er]

Yes i agree. Ive allways considered men who cheat on their wives. TRAITORS

[@Hongkongbig]

curragh 42 She was manipulated to sit on a cannon and someone took a picture, big fucking deal. That was AGES ago.

[@ridaevans4126]

Is this why you led the way Hanoi Jane to having people spit on our soldiers when they came home from Vietnam-----you should think about that----------------------Sorry about your mother.