Jane Fonda says Monster In Law with Jennifer Lopez was the greatest

Jane Fonda says Monster-In-Law with Jennifer Lopez was ‘the greatest stroke of luck’

Jane Fonda explained this month that acting in the 2005 film Monster-In-Law was “the greatest godsend” that reinvigorated her career.

She took a 15-year hiatus from film after marrying media mogul Ted Turner, but made her comeback with Monster-In-Law after the divorce.

“It was the only smart career I’ve ever had,” the 84-year-old told the Daily Mirror in a new interview. “I thought, ‘People are going to come into the movie to see J-Lo, but they’re going to rediscover Fonda,’ and that’s what happened.”

Nowadays: Jane Fonda explained this month that acting in the 2005 film Monster-In-Law was

Nowadays: Jane Fonda explained this month that acting in the 2005 film Monster-In-Law was “the greatest godsend” that reinvigorated her career; seen in an H&M ad

Comeback:

Comeback: “It was the only smart career I’ve ever had,” the 84-year-old – pictured with J-Lo on the set of Monster-in-law – told the Daily Mirror in a new interview

Jane said, “The greatest stroke of luck was getting the role in The Monster-in-Law at a point in my career when I hadn’t been in the acting business for 15 years or more.”

She explained that the film “was made with Jennifer Lopez and it was a great comeback for me. I was almost 65 years old when I got this script out of the blue.’

Jane continued, “The producer was a friend. We hired someone to rewrite my character and that turned into the amazing role of mother-in-law in this film.”

In Monster-In-Law, Jane stole the show as the villainous mother of a doctor, played by Michael Vartan, who becomes engaged to J-Lo.

Duel: In Monsters in Law, Jane stole the show as the villainous mother of a doctor, played by Michael Vartan, who becomes engaged to J-Lo

Duel: In Monsters in Law, Jane stole the show as the villainous mother of a doctor, played by Michael Vartan, who becomes engaged to J-Lo

The film featured a star cast ranging from Wanda Sykes and Will Arnett to Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, who played Jane’s own troubled mother-in-law.

Monster-in-law was Jane’s first film since the 1990 feature film Stanley and Iris, in which she played the role of a grieving widow who finds love again with Robert De Niro.

She left the entertainment industry during her marriage to film mogul Ted Turner, whom she now describes as her “favorite ex-husband.”

During her documentary Jane Fonda In Five Acts, she opened up about the troubles of marriage, noting, “Ted can’t be alone, so my whole life had to revolve around him.”

Staying Active: The iconic actress was recently pictured on Instagram

Staying Active: The iconic actress was recently pictured on Instagram

The way they were: She took a 15-year hiatus from film after marrying media mogul Ted Turner, with whom she is pictured in 1994

The way they were: She took a 15-year hiatus from film after marrying media mogul Ted Turner, with whom she is pictured in 1994

Jane became “more of a feminist” during her marriage, but “it’s hard to be a full feminist when you’re in a marriage that’s not quite working.”

The two-time Academy Award winner wanted to be “fully realized” and “hoped Ted would be okay because I really loved him and I hoped it would be forever, but it didn’t turn out that way.”

As she was undecided about leaving him, a voice in her head told her, “Oh god, Fonda, come on, he’s handsome, he’s cute, he’s sexy, you know, you’ll never have to work again.” Calm down, come on!’

But a “softer little voice” advised her, “If you stay, you’ll never be authentic. You will never be able to be whole.’

'Favorite Ex-Husband': During her documentary 'Jane Fonda In Five Acts' she remarked: 'Ted can't be alone so my whole life had to revolve around him'

‘Favorite Ex-Husband’: During her documentary ‘Jane Fonda In Five Acts’ she remarked: ‘Ted can’t be alone so my whole life had to revolve around him’

After the marriage broke up in 2001, she decided to return to Hollywood as a full-time actress, and with the help of Monster-In-Law, she did so.

Her best friend Paula Weinstein, no relation to Harvey, lured her back into showbiz by persuading her to accept an offer to perform at the Oscars.

Paula later went on to produce Monster-In-Law, which put Jane back in the acting business as a movie star.

Throwback: Monster-In-Law was Jane's first film since the 1990 feature film Stanley and Iris, in which she starred as a grieving widow who found love again with Robert De Niro

Throwback: Monster-In-Law was Jane’s first film since the 1990 feature film Stanley and Iris, in which she starred as a grieving widow who found love again with Robert De Niro

In recent years, her successful career has included the hit Netflix show Grace And Frankie and the hit comedy film Book Club, with a sequel in the works.

She has since confessed on stage at the BFI that while she was married to Ted, she “had no intention of ever acting again” and “didn’t miss it at all.”

However, during her film break, she wrote a memoir, “and by the time I finished writing my memoir, I was a different person and I thought, ‘I might find joy in acting again.

Side by side: Her blossoming career in recent years has included hit Netflix show Grace And Frankie, which she reunited with her 9 To 5 co-star Lily Tomlin (left).

Side by side: Her blossoming career in recent years has included hit Netflix show Grace And Frankie, which she reunited with her 9 To 5 co-star Lily Tomlin (left).

When the prospect of monsters-in-law came up, she thought, “Aha! This is very interesting because my part is the better part. People will come to see Jennifer Lopez, but they will find Jane Fonda or they will find Jane Fonda again.

She said: “Very often I see a group of young women, especially Latinas, walking up to me and they recognize me and they get excited, forget Coming Home and Klute and Julia and everything, it’s all I know what they’re going to say : “Monster-in-law! I’ve seen it 15 times! It’s my absolute favorite movie!”

Jane has not remarried after Ted, her third and final husband, but Jennifer recently tied the knot with her fourth husband, Ben Affleck.

So in love: Jane hasn't remarried after Ted, her third and final husband, but Jennifer recently tied the knot with her fourth husband, Ben Affleck

So in love: Jane hasn’t remarried after Ted, her third and final husband, but Jennifer recently tied the knot with her fourth husband, Ben Affleck