Jane Fonda urged Mary Steenburgen to embrace aging

Bang Showbiz on Jan 2, 2026

Published in Women

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Jane Fonda told Mary Steenburgen to embrace aging during one of their early meetings.

The 72-year-old actress first crossed paths with Jane when they worked on the set of the 2018 comedy-romance movie, Book Club, and the 88-year-old Hollywood legend wanted to know if Mary was fully committed to friendship because time gets more limited with age.

Mary recalled to People: "When we became friends, I remember her almost walking out the front gate and then turning around, looking at me and saying, 'Are we going to be friends?'

"And I said, 'Yes.' And she said, 'Now don't just say it by rote. Are you going to be intentional? We've got to be. Because at my age, I have to be intentional.'

"And I looked at the fierce, insanely gorgeous blue eyes and thought, 'I see what she means.' I see the intention behind them because there's a clock, and you don't know how long you have. But as you get older, it's shorter."

And Jane's advice of being honest and selective about friendships, as well as not to slow down amid aging, has stuck with Mary.

Mary said: "[Jane's advice has] become a part of my life with people I love.

"With not wasting time on people that aren't in my life for the right reason, for being honest with myself about life. All that stuff, aging, it actually makes it more interesting.

"And then the other thing that she inspired was, she always said, 'Don't take your foot off the gas pedal. Push it down harder. Harder now.' So we're inspired by that."

In a 2013 interview with Allure, Mary said getting older should be celebrated.

The Back to the Future Part III star explained: "I was excited to turn 60. I decided if you're lucky enough to be alive, you should use each birthday to celebrate what your life is about."

That approach stemmed from her mom, Nellie Mae Wall.

Mary said: "My mother was a gorgeous person with no vanity, but she was a really good soul."

The A Man on the Inside actress shared she tried Botox - a non-surgical treatment that smooths out wrinkles - "but it didn't feel right" for her.

Mary added: "As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions. So instead, I just grew bangs."