Jane Fonda Delivers Powerful Call for Empathy at 2025 SAG Awards

The 87-year-old actor and activist used her Life Achievement Award speech to address societal challenges and the importance of community and resilience.

Jane Fonda, recipient of the 2025 SAG Life Achievement Award, emphasized empathy as a cornerstone of societal progress, defining 'woke' as caring about others.
Fonda urged the entertainment industry to resist isolation and foster community, drawing parallels between current events and pivotal historical social movements like the Civil Rights Movement and Stonewall.
She highlighted the role of actors in creating empathy through their craft, referencing her own career and Sebastian Stan's portrayal of a young Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice.'
Fonda warned of significant challenges ahead, subtly alluding to policies under the Trump administration, and called for collective action to support vulnerable communities.
Reflecting on her decades of activism, Fonda encouraged courage and unity, inspiring her peers to project an inclusive and hopeful vision for the future.