Veteran actress and activist Jane Fonda received the esteemed Life Achievement Award at the SAG Awards in Los Angeles on February 19, 2025. The award from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) honors those who embody the greatest ideals of the acting profession.
A Reflection on a Storied Career
In her acceptance speech, Fonda looked back on her illustrious and enduring career in Hollywood. “I love acting. We get to open people’s minds to new ideas, make them see beyond their understanding of the world, and help them laugh when times are tough,” Fonda explained.
She also accepted the power of transformation of her work. “For a woman like me who was raised in the ’40s and ’50s when women weren’t allowed to have opinions or get angry, acting provided an opportunity to play angry women with opinions. That was a gift,” she said.
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Highlighting the Power of Empathy
In her address, Fonda emphasized the role of empathy, a common refrain in her life’s work as an activist. “SAG-AFTRA is different from other unions,” she said. “As performers, we don’t produce concrete goods — we create empathy,” she continued. “Our mission is to grasp another human being so deeply that we can move their souls, feel their sorrow and joy, and enable others to do so as well.”
Fonda also called on her colleagues to stand against division and develop empathy. “Even when others have different politics, we have to listen from the heart and invite them into our tent. We’ll need a big tent to stand together in the face of what’s coming,” she stated.
A Call to Action
The Oscar-winning actress set the present social and political landscape as a turning point in history. Drawing parallels between today’s issues and previous social movements, Fonda asserted, “We don’t have to wonder what we would do in a moment of great social change — we’re living it. This is not a rehearsal. It’s time to be brave and stand together.”
She wrapped up her remarks with a poignant call to stand together and organize as one. “We don’t have the right to alienate. We must remain community, serve the weak, and present an uplifted vision for the future,” Fonda commanded.
Honoring a Legacy
The SAG Life Achievement Award is the organization’s ultimate tribute, paid to artists who create an atmosphere in the craft where artistic and finest values prevail. Fonda’s lifelong devotion, evidenced through three-plus decades on stages across America as well as television shows, makes her the right individual for such honor.
