Jane Fonda didn’t think she would make it to the age of 30.
The former fitness guru turned 80 on December 21, but she says she never expected to live so long as she assumed she would die from an addiction "of some sort" much earlier in her life.
She admitted: "I never pictured 30. I assumed I wouldn’t live very long and that I would die lonely and an addict of some sort. I didn’t think if I did live this long, that I would be vibrant and healthy and still working. I’m grateful."
The ‘Monster-in-Law’ star – who has daughters Mary, 50, Vanessa, 49 and 44-year-old son Troy from three marriages – says that over the past eight decades she has learned to be "less judgemental" and focus on being a "better" person.
She told PEOPLE magazine: "I’m thankful that I’ve gotten better over the 80 years.
"I’m less judgmental. I’m forgiving. It wasn’t always true. I’ve really worked hard to get better as a human being."
Jane used her 80th birthday celebrations to raise $1.3 million for charity.
The ‘Barbarella’ star was the guest of honour at an intimate fundraiser staged in Atlanta on December 9, by the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential (GCAPP), an organisation founded by the actress in 1995 to help prevent teenage pregnancy and provide sexual health education.
Asked what the evening meant to her and the organisation, Jane said earlier this month: "[I am] very proud of what we have accomplished over the years.
"It is a very challenging time for [GCAPP] because government funding for teen pregnancy prevention has been cut.
"In spite of what’s happening, we will make changes. It’s going to be a challenge. But we have to remain robust."
Jane Fonda didn’t see herself living past 30
