The 'Grace and Frankie' star says of her dark past, 'I always thought it was my fault; that I didn't do or say the right thing.'
- Mar 3, 2017
AceShowbiz - Jane Fonda reveals her dark past to fellow younger actress Brie Larson in an interview for the latest issue of The Edit. The 79-year-old actress opens up that she is a victim of rape and sexual assault. She says she used to blame herself for what happened.
"To show you the extent to which a patriarchy takes a toll on females; I've been raped, I've been sexually abused as a child and I've been fired because I wouldn't sleep with my boss and I always thought it was my fault; that I didn't do or say the right thing," she says. "I know young girls who've been raped and didn't even know it was rape. They think, 'It must have been because I said 'no' the wrong way.' One of the great things the women's movement has done is to make us realize that [rape and abuse is] not our fault. We were violated and it's not right."
Now, she continues, "I've learned the only power I have in my career is the word no. I couldn't choose the jobs I got, but I could say no to jobs that weren't right for me. Unlike you, Brie, it took me 60 years to learn how to say no. If anyone offered me anything I would say yes. I took parts I wasn't right for and I was taken advantage of. I didn't know how to stand up for myself. Now, I would say, 'No. This is a piece of s***. I don't like the way you're treating me,' and leave. If only I had known then what I do now."
