They first starred opposite each other in the 1960s college comedy Tall Story, and went on to dominate the decade as a captivating screen team.
And almost four decades later, Jane Fonda, 78, and Robert Redford, 81, proved their chemistry was stronger than ever as they attended the 74th Venice Film Festival.
The acting heavyweights hugged and kissed as they picked up their Lifetime Achievement awards – with Fonda cheekily admitting she wished the sex scene in their latest Netflix romance Our Souls At Night lasted longer.
Acting legends: Almost four decades later, Jane Fonda, 78, and Robert Redford, 81, proved their chemistry was stronger than ever as they attended the 74th Venice Film Festival
Both Redford and Fonda were honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Our Souls At Night premiere on Friday.
And while they put on a tactile display on the red carpet, Jane was quick to spill on their onscreen bedroom antics.
‘I live for sex scenes with him,’ she said. ‘He’s a great kisser so it was fun to kiss him in my 20s and to kiss him again in my almost 80s.’
The actors, who first worked together over half a century ago, looked utterly comfortable in each other’s presence
And screen legend Jane showed off her age-defying beauty in a showstopping nude gown, dripping in decadent embellishments.
Honour: The acting heavyweights kissed and hugged as they picked up their Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement awards at the festival on Friday
Stunning: The screen legend showed off her age-defying beauty in a showstopping nude gown, dripping in decadent embellishments
Chic: Featuring demure three-quarter length sleeves and a nipped-in waist, the garment boasted blue floral embroidery and whimsical mesh designs
Old pals: The duo seemed overwhelmed as they were recognised for their decades of entertainment
Cheeky: And while they put on a tactile display on the red carpet, Jane was quick to spill on their onscreen bedroom antics
Featuring demure three-quarter length sleeves and a nipped-in waist, the garment boasted blue floral embroidery and whimsical mesh designs.
Adding an extra dose of sparkle to the glamorous look, Fonda carried a chic gold box clutch.
Sweeping her golden hair into an elegant chignon, the mother-of-three allowed her striking features to take centre-stage.
Saucy: ‘I live for sex scenes with him,’ she said. ‘He’s a great kisser so it was fun to kiss him in my 20s and to kiss him again in my almost 80s’
Candid: Fonda cheekily admitted she wished their sex scene in their latest collaboration Our Souls At Night lasted longer
Legend: Meanwhile Robert proved why he was a heartthrob for decades, looking dapper in a simple black suit and tie
Chemistry: Proving they still dazzled in each other’s company, he wrapped a tender arm around Jane
Firm friends: The actors, who first worked together over half a century ago, looked utterly comfortable in each other’s presence
The eternally youthful star framed her eyes with understated smoky eyeshadow, which she complemented with a dusky pink lipstick.
She was joined by her proud son, actor Troy Garity, 44, who looked dapper in a sharp suit and seemed thrilled to watch his mother receive the award.
Meanwhile Robert proved why he was a heartthrob for decades, looking dapper in a simple black suit and tie.
Proving they still dazzled in each other’s company, he wrapped a tender arm around Jane as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Struggling: Jane couldn’t hold back the tears as she went onstage to pick up her award
Overwhelmed with emotion: The actress gave Robert a standing ovation as he also picked up his award
Legends of the screen: The two heavyweights commanded all attention as they gracefully took to the red carpet
Reunited: Half a century after playing a young couple in Barefoot in the Park, Fonda and Redford reunite in a Netflix production directed by Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra about getting another chance at love late in life
Special: Redford, also the movie’s producer, wanted to make the film because so few movies are geared towards older audiences. He also wanted to make another film with Fonda before dying
Tribute: ‘Jane and I have a long history in film and I wanted us to have another chance and we are getting older,’ he said
Half a century after playing a young couple in Barefoot in the Park, Fonda and Redford reunite in a Netflix production directed by Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra about getting another chance at love late in life.
Redford, also the movie’s producer, wanted to make the film because so few movies are geared towards older audiences.
He also wanted to make another film with Fonda before dying.
Simply stylish: Adding an extra dose of sparkle to the glamorous look, Fonda carried a chic gold box clutch
Taking centre-stage: Sweeping her golden hair into an elegant chignon, the mother-of-three allowed her striking features to take centre-stage
Admission: While Redford lamented the fact that when you get older ‘you have to give up certain things’, Fonda said at least when it comes to love and sex, getting older was a good thing
Confession: ‘It gets better because we’re braver, what the heck do we have to lose? So my skin sags, so does his. You know your body better so you’re not afraid to ask for what you need,’ she said
Opening up: She added about her and Robert’s characters: ‘So although we never actually get to see the sex in this movie of ours, I think it’s great that they still want to have sex and that they do and they become profoundly together’
‘Jane and I have a long history in film and I wanted us to have another chance and we are getting older,’ he said.
The movie, which screened in the out-of-competition section at the festival, tells the story of Addie Moore and Louis Waters, two retired and widowed neighbours living in a small town in the U.S. state of Colorado.
They have known each other most of their lives but rarely spoken. That changes when Addie knocks on Louis’ door one night and asks: ‘Would you be interested in coming to my house sometime to sleep with me?’
What starts as simply having bedtime conversations to help Addie fall asleep, soon goes deeper.
Family affair: She was joined by her proud son, actor Troy Garity, 44, on the big night
Night to remember: Troy looked dapper in a sharp suit and seemed thrilled to watch his mother receive the award
Acting dynasty: The acting veteran has a daughter Vanessa Vadim, 48, with her first husband, screenwriter Roger Vadim and Troy with her second husband, activist Tom Hayden
Ready for her close-up: The thespian looked incredible as she posed under the lights
Sensational: The eternally youthful star framed her eyes with understated smoky eyeshadow, which she complemented with a dusky pink lipstick
Silver screen icon coming through! Jane laughed as she made her way past the photographers
Still going strong: Despite spending half a century in the movie industry, Jane is still thriving with her film roles
They start sharing their long-silenced regrets about life-changing events in their married lives – Louis’ extramarital affair and Addie’s loss of a daughter – and the resulting difficult relationships with their adult children.
‘For me the movie is about hope,’ Fonda said about the adaptation of a Kent Haruf novel.
‘If you’re willing to make a leap of faith, you can become what you were meant to be even if you’ve never been that before.’
Fourth time’s a charm: It was if no time had passed for Robert Redford and Jane Fonda as they reunited at a photocall for their latest flick, Our Souls At Night at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, 38 years after their last on-screen appearance together
Where it all began: Robert, 81, looked impossibly handsome as he showed off his trim figure in an ivory t-shirt, teamed with navy straight-leg jeans, (pictured with Jane in their first on-screen pairing, 1966’s The Chase)
While Redford lamented the fact that when you get older ‘you have to give up certain things’, Fonda said at least when it comes to love and sex, getting older was a good thing.
‘It gets better because we’re braver, what the heck do we have to lose? So my skin sags, so does his. You know your body better so you’re not afraid to ask for what you need,’ she said.
‘So although we never actually get to see the sex in this movie of ours, I think it’s great that they still want to have sex and that they do and they become profoundly together.’
Screen stalwarts: Fast forward 12 years, the pair, with Jane now an Oscar winning actress and Robert a superstar after title roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Way We Were (1973) teamed up for a fourth time in rodeo drama The Electric Horseman
Hollywood royalty: The screen stalwarts, who have played lovers in The Chase (1967), Barefoot In The Park (1967) and The Electric Horseman (1979) as well as both making their film debut in 1960’s Tall Story looked closer than ever as they cuddled up for snappers
Barely aged: In 1967 , the pair, now both established stars, played newlyweds in the critically acclaimed comedy Barefoot In The Park, which saw Jane nominated for a Bafta award.
Forever co-stars: Our Souls At Night, which is released on September 29, tells the tale of two widowers who fall in love after living next door to one another for years (pictured in 1967)
The acting heavyweights, who share four Oscars between them, showed the strength of the near six-decade friendship as they held hands, hugged and chatted together.
The duo’s flurry of on-screen appearances began in 1960 when both made their screen debuts in romantic comedy/college satire Tall Story.
Robert, then 24, played a minor role as a basketball player, while Jane, then 22, took on the lead female role.
Latest collaboration: The pair reunite in the Netlfix romance Our Souls At Night
Exciting: The movie, which screened in the out-of-competition section at the festival, tells the story of Addie Moore and Louis Waters, two retired and widowed neighbours living in a small town in the U.S. state of Colorado
Captivating: They have known each other most of their lives but rarely spoken. That changes when Addie knocks on Louis’ door one night and asks: ‘Would you be interested in coming to my house sometime to sleep with me?’
Stealing the spotlight: What starts as simply having bedtime conversations to help Addie fall asleep, soon goes deeper
Revealing all: They start sharing their long-silenced regrets about life-changing events in their married lives – Louis’ extramarital affair and Addie’s loss of a daughter – and the resulting difficult relationships with their adult children
Moving forward six years, the pair reunited in 1966 film The Chase, where rising star Robert took one of his first lead roles in the Prison Break saga, alongside Jane and movie legend Marlon Brando.
The next year, the pair, now both established stars, played newlyweds in the critically acclaimed comedy Barefoot In The Park, which saw Jane nominated for a Bafta award.
Fast forward 12 years, the pair, with Jane now an Oscar winning actress and Robert a superstar after title roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Way We Were (1973) teamed up for a fourth time in rodeo drama The Electric Horseman.
Our Souls At Night, which is released on September 29, tells the tale of two widowers who fall in love after living next door to one another for years.
Sad: The actress hit the headlines in January after calling it quits with her boyfriend of eight years, Richard Perry, 74
It’s over: ‘It’s a shift in the direction of our lives. I hate to say the romantic relationship is over. We’re definitely extremely good friends,’ Richard said at the time of the split