The Land Down Under has seen several A-list visitors over the decades.

Yet, none of them were as fiery as Hollywood superstar and activist Jane Fonda.

Fonda recently wrapped up her whirlwind Australian tour, and she left more than just a few memorable moments.

Jane Fonda recently concluded her Wanderlust True North tour across the country, where she sat down with journalist Liz Hayes for an intimate conversation.

While many expected that the 86-year-old Fonda would quietly bow out after a few polite speeches, think again!

Fonda's final night in Sydney was a masterclass in passion, provocation, and the kind of 'ruckus-raising' that's defined her extraordinary life over the years.

Jane Fonda had two major speaking engagements in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively. Image Credit: Wanderlust Events

Last Sunday, 15 June at ICC Sydney, Fonda, along with Liz Hayes, had a candid conversation that spanned her Hollywood career, her decades of activism, and her personal journey.

In true Jane Fonda fashion, she did not just reflect on the past.

She already looked forward to the future and promised her Australian fans that she would be 'coming back'.

Throughout her time Down Under, she had been invited to trek through the outback with a group of Aboriginal women.

'I met a fantastic woman; she said she'd hiked 26 miles, so I'm gonna come back and do it and spend time with some Aboriginal women,' she candidly shared.

Yet, as much as she's fallen in love with Australia, Jane Fonda admitted her heart was heavy watching events unfold back home.

'I love Australia, but it is very hard being here and looking at what is happening in my country, my city, my state,' she confessed as a United States citizen.

'I go home tomorrow, and I'll just go home and raise a ruckus. It's hard to do it when you're not there.'

If you're wondering what 'raising a ruckus' looks like for Jane Fonda, it's not just a catchy phrase.

She has her sights set on an oil well in Santa Barbara, California, which had been notorious for a disastrous spill back in 2015.

'They're trying to start it up again, so I might chain myself to that,' she said in jest during the tour.

During her visit Down Under, she met up with the environmental advocacy group Greenpeace, proving her commitment to the cause despite her age.

At a previous show in Melbourne, she delivered a blistering critique of American politics.

Her tirade did not spare anyone, even the current President, Donald Trump.

'F*** those neoliberals and fascists and people who don't move to love,' she said, urging the crowd to embrace empathy and compassion.

She warned that many working-class Americans would soon experience 'buyer's remorse' over their political choices.

Jane Fonda in an anti-nuclear protest in 1979. Image Credit: IMdB

'In the United States, 78 million people voted for Trump, not all of them MAGA,' she stated.

'But people are hurting—men and women—and they're going to realise it.'

Fonda's outspokenness about these matters is not new at all.

She has been a lightning rod for controversy since the 1970s when she championed the Black Panthers, the Women's Movement, and Native American rights.

Jane Fonda's opposition to the Vietnam War and her 1972 trip to North Vietnam earned her the nickname 'Hanoi Jane'.

He also received calls for prosecution from several politicians in the United States.

So, how did she survive the criticism and backlash for her actions?

'I was not alone. I was part of a posse that had my back,' she firmly shared.

'I knew that what I was doing was right... you just go through it. And then they die or go to jail, and you're left,' she quipped, drawing laughter and applause.

'I'll outlive all those f******.'

She's been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience at climate rallies.

For Fonda, activism isn't just a phase—it's a lifelong calling.

Despite her activism, Jane Fonda has had a dazzling Hollywood career.

Jane, the daughter of Oscar-winner Henry Fonda and sister to the late Peter Fonda, has starred in classics like Barefoot in the Park, Barbarella, 9 to 5, On Golden Pond, and Monster-in-Law.

Her roles in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Klute, and Coming Home cemented her status as a powerhouse performer with a social conscience.

She has received seven Golden Globe awards, two BAFTAs, an Emmy for Grace and Frankie.

She also received nominations for the Grammy Awards and the Tony Awards.

Earlier this year, she was honoured with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, where she talked about the importance of empathy during divisive times.

Learn more about Jane Fonda's advocacy and iconic moments here:

Source: Glamour/YouTube​

But what is Jane Fonda most proud of? It's not the awards or the headlines—it's her personal growth.

'If your early childhood is traumatic, you put an armour around your heart,' she explained.

'It's hard to get rid of that armour—it takes a lot of work.'

'The armour is beginning to fall away, and my heart is beginning to soften—that's what I'm proud of,' she shared.

From Hollywood screens to protest lines, Jane Fonda remains a force of nature—unapologetic, unafraid, and unbowed.

Her visit Down Under was a reminder that it's never too late to stand up, speak out, and raise a ruckus for what you believe in.

Key Takeaways

• Jane Fonda wrapped up her Australian tour with a pledge to 'raise a ruckus' back in the United States amid turbulent times.
• During her talks in Sydney and Melbourne, Fonda delivered fiery political commentary, criticised American leadership, and called for more empathy and activism.
• Fonda reflected on her long history of activism, from the Vietnam War era to current climate protests, noting the personal toll and resilience it required.
• Beyond her acting career and awards, Fonda shared her journey of overcoming early trauma and hardening, saying she is most proud of her emotional growth and ability to 'soften her heart' later in life.

What do you think of Jane Fonda's fiery spirit? Have you ever been inspired to 'raise a ruckus' for a cause close to your heart? Share your thoughts about Jane Fonda's advocacies and other related stories in the comments below!

 

[Wombat2u2004]

If Jane Fonda just stuck to her acting & fitness programs, I'd take a bit of interest in her.

I wouldn't listen to any of her rhetoric at all. Never have, never will.

As far as I'm concerned, she is a traitor to the American cause.

You only have to look at her 'CRAP' protesting against the American soldiers & government re the Vietnam war. She was outrageous to the extreme.

She should have been locked up for borderline 'Treason".

As far as I'm concerned, she can dump her head in the "Dunny".

Well said novezar.
I have no time for Hanoi Jane.
She is a traitor to those who protected her sorry arse.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

I think a lot of people were against the Vietnam war.

It was one war that Australia should never got involved with but unfortunately we follow Big Brother.

I did year 12 as an adult and a subject I did was Asia Pacific and researched our involvement in Vietnam.
Our men were made fight in that war yet when they came home the government never acknowledged them as war vets.

60,000 Australians served in that war, over 500 died and over 2400 were injured.

Then there was Agent Orange
Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to remove vegetation and disrupt enemy supply lines. It was one of several "Rainbow Herbicides" used, and the name "Agent Orange" came from the orange stripe on the storage barrels. The use of Agent Orange in Vietnam had significant and lasting health and environmental consequences, affecting both Vietnamese civilians and U.S. military personnel, including many Australians who after they returned home either died of cancer or couldn't produce children and those who could had a large number of children with disabilities.
Yet it took years of fighting for our government to treat and acknowledge these men and women as war Vets.

I think I would also protest to stop the government sending our people to a war we shouldn't be involved in.

So how would you know at the time that it was a war we shouldn't have been involved in?
I was there, and I believed it was a war we should have been involved in, and I still believe that. And many do.
As for big brother, why shouldn't we support them? They supported us in WW2, if not for them we'd probably be talking Japanese. Our brilliant poms never lifted a finger in that direction. The Japs were already bombing Darwin, so who do you think was responsible for the retreat of the Japanese Army? The African pygmies?
And I'd bet my bippy that big brother will support us next time that happens. It's what brothers do, it's called an alliance.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

She is a traitor to her own country. Ask any American Vietnam Veteran.

Yep. That coming from me and all of them men I served with over there.

It's so easy to sit on the beach drinking a coke and saying we shouldn't be there.

 

[Cridland]

She is a traitor to her own country. Ask any American Vietnam Veteran.

Absolutely, handed US soldiers on a platter to North Vietnam.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

When Fonda visited North Vietnam in 1972, she photographed sitting on an anti aircraft gun.

Due to this image, she was dubbed "Hanoi Jane" in the media, however, she has never been declared as a communist.

True, she was never declared a communist, but she believed in their cause and supported it.
That makes her a commo in my eyes.

 

[Suzanne rose]

So how would you know at the time that it was a war we shouldn't have been involved in?
I was there, and I believed it was a war we should have been involved in, and I still believe that. And many do.
As for big brother, why shouldn't we support them? They supported us in WW2, if not for them we'd probably be talking Japanese. Our brilliant poms never lifted a finger in that direction. The Japs were already bombing Darwin, so who do you think was responsible for the retreat of the Japanese Army? The African pygmies?
And I'd bet my bippy that big brother will support us next time that happens. It's what brothers do, it's called an alliance.

With due Respect to you I think you are one of the very few who believed we needed to be there.
The Government made most of you go. That was the last conscription Australia did.
I'm glad you came back both mentally and physically well. Sadly a lot came back home with severe depression and worst.

And how long did it take the Government to honour the Vietnam Vets and support them ? Far too long

 

[Trina G]

Hanoi Jane. I feel sorry for the people who wasted their money to see this bitter has been who was responsible for the execution of American soldiers during the Vietnam War by passing a note given to her by a soldier to his captors. Never forget that. To be a supporter of the left wing after what the Democrats have done during the last term of Government to the USA shows how deluded & removed from reality she is.

What Biden did was nothing compared to what Trump is doing not only to USA but the rest of the world. So much for right wing politics.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

What Biden did was nothing compared to what Trump is doing not only to USA but the rest of the world. So much for right wing politics.

That's because Biden was catatonic at best and probably unbeknownst to us, actually crapped his pants at the podium.
Trump is righting all the wrongs.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

With due Respect to you I think you are one of the very few who believed we needed to be there.
The Government made most of you go. That was the last conscription Australia did.
I'm glad you came back both mentally and physically well. Sadly a lot came back home with severe depression and worst.

And how long did it take the Government to honour the Vietnam Vets and support them ? Far too long

With due respect to you too, the government never made me go, or many of the other men I was with.
I was a regular soldier, not a national serviceman.
Funny tho, eh 95% of my Veteran association, most of the members being ex conscripts would not agree with you. Believing that there were only a few who believed we needed to be there is total garbage.
Most people I have met have thanked me for my service and involvement.
But of course, we will always get those who disagree.
I think we are heading right now into a world war. What will you do then Suzanne rose? Protest?

 

[Suzanne rose]

With due respect to you too, the government never made me go, or many of the other men I was with.
I was a regular soldier, not a national serviceman.
Funny tho, eh 95% of my Veteran association, most of the members being ex conscripts would not agree with you. Believing that there were only a few who believed we needed to be there is total garbage.
Most people I have met have thanked me for my service and involvement.
But of course, we will always get those who disagree.
I think we are heading right now into a world war. What will you do then Suzanne rose? Protest?

I will look for a box of letters I have from vets who serves and they all say it was a war we should never have been involved in. Two of my uncles served in Vietnam and one was an army guy who couldn't wait to go to action, the other one was made go, both were married to my mother's sisters.

I do believe we are headed for world war 3. You can't compare what is happening in The middle east to Vientnam !!

Would I want my sons to go to war ? No. Would they go if it meant protecting our country two of my 5 sons would.

If we are heading for a 3rd world war then God help us, it will be something not seen before.

For the records I don't believe in Protesting

 

[etphhome]

I have always liked her, still do.

 

[Littleboy8]

I have always liked her, still do.

Same here and my favourite movie is Monster in law it’s hilarious.

 

[PeakA]

Hanoi Jane. I feel sorry for the people who wasted their money to see this bitter has been who was responsible for the execution of American soldiers during the Vietnam War by passing a note given to her by a soldier to his captors. Never forget that. To be a supporter of the left wing after what the Democrats have done during the last term of Government to the USA shows how deluded & removed from reality she is.

Visiting North Vietnam during the Vietnam war was probably taking protesting the war too far, but claims she passed on notes from prisoners to their captors has been debunked.
As for your following comments about what the democrats did to the US, the current regime is doing a hell of a lot worse.

 

[Veggiepatch]

With due respect to you too, the government never made me go, or many of the other men I was with.
I was a regular soldier, not a national serviceman.
Funny tho, eh 95% of my Veteran association, most of the members being ex conscripts would not agree with you. Believing that there were only a few who believed we needed to be there is total garbage.
Most people I have met have thanked me for my service and involvement.
But of course, we will always get those who disagree.
I think we are heading right now into a world war. What will you do then Suzanne rose? Protest?

Just like Fonda.

All hot air....

 

[novezar]

Well said novezar.
I have no time for Hanoi Jane.
She is a traitor to those who protected her sorry arse.

Good on you, Wombat2u2004.
She should be thankful that someone didn't put a slug through her empty noggin.
I couldn't give a "Shit" about her at all.
I reckon that there would be plenty of American Vietnam Vets who would certainly be wishing her to the shit house as well.

 

[Julie1946]

Her actions against Vietnam veterans is unforgivable, it was a disgrace what she did , and even though she says she is remorseful it can not be undone, very bad time for all those soldiers, who were fighting that war.

 

[Leenie]

When Fonda visited North Vietnam in 1972, she photographed sitting on an anti aircraft gun.

Due to this image, she was dubbed "Hanoi Jane" in the media, however, she has never been declared as a communist.

By her actions and support of Nth Vietnam she came across as a commo .

 

[Macarj]

I always liked the outspoken Jane Fonda

Why the anger comment I am allowed my opinion if you don't agree don't just ignore my comment