Jane Fonda has been candid in describing her experiences of rape and sexual abuse as a young woman.
And now the 80-year-old has revealed the toll those traumatic events took on her love life, admitting that intimacy was ‘hard’ for her.
‘When that happens to you, you can heal, but it’s really, really had to be able to tolerate intimacy,’ she told Spectrum on Saturday.
Tough: Jane Fonda has been candid in describing her experiences of rape and sexual abuse as a young woman. And now the 80-year-old has revealed the toll those traumatic events took on her love life, admitting that intimacy was ‘hard’ for her
She added that as a young woman, ‘I had nobody really looking out for me, but it was like a laser light constantly scanning the horizon for any warm body’.
The iconic film star went on to describe the rape and abuse of women in Hollywood and beyond as an ‘epidemic’.
‘Most of my women friends have had traumatic things happen to them. All of them have been sexually abused. Which makes me know it’s an epidemic,’ she added.
The Klute actress also says while she feels she is a survivor, there are ‘girls who aren’t resilient’ and who will be ‘destroyed’ by the abuse they suffer.
Jane, a two-time Academy Award winner, has in the past openly discussed her experiences of rape and abuse.
Heyday: She added that as a young woman, ‘I had nobody really looking out for me, but it was like a laser light constantly scanning the horizon for any warm body’. Jane is pictured in the 1968 film Barberella
Struggles: ‘When that happens to you, you can heal, but it’s really, really had to be able to tolerate intimacy,’ she told Spectrum. Jane is pictured in the 1968 film Barberella
‘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 told the The EDIT magazine last year.
Now an octogenarian, the Monster-In-Law star says she has ‘closed up shop’ when it comes to her sex life.
She told Extra last year: ‘I’m not dating any more, but I did up until a couple of years ago. I’m 80, I’ve closed up shop down there!’
New life: The Monster-In-Law star says she has ‘closed up shop’ when it comes to her sex life. Jane’s last relationship – eight years with music producer Richard Perry (pictured left) – ended in January 2017
Jane’s last relationship – eight years with music producer Richard Perry – ended in January 2017.
The On Golden Pond actress has also said she believes some women who have plastic surgery are using it as a ‘mask’ to cover up sexual abuse.
Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the actress said she often wonders whether women with cosmetic surgery are hiding dark secrets.
She told The Observer: ‘When I see the face of a woman who has made herself into a mask, I always think to myself… I wonder, I wonder.’
Mask; The On Golden Pond actress has also said she believes some women who have plastic surgery are using it as a ‘mask’ to cover up sexual abuse