Jane Fonda may be in her golden years, but the future didn't always look so bright.

The Oscar-winning actress, who turns 88 on Dec. 21, got candid on aging and her turbulent upbringing during an appearance on the Michelle Obama podcast "IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson" released Wednesday, Nov. 19.

"I didn't think I'd live past 30. I was sure I was going to die," Fonda said. "My youth was not especially happy."

Fonda, daughter of actor Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Ford Seymour, was confronted with emotional trials as a child, including Seymour's death by suicide when she was 12. The actress later developed a yearslong battle with an eating disorder.

"I'm not addictive, but I thought I was going to die from drugs and loneliness," Fonda reflected. "So, the fact that I'm almost 88 is astonishing to me, and what is even more astonishing is that I wouldn't go back for anything. I feel more centered, more whole, more complete. I'm very happy."

And while she may be nearing her 90s, Fonda added that she's "not afraid of dying."

"The most important thing I did was when I was going to turn 60, in my mind, [I told myself], 'This is the beginning of my final act,' and I didn't know how to live it," Fonda said.

Jane Fonda shares hopes for her 'final act'

Like many great shows, Fonda's life has had several acts. But the finale may be the most important part.

Fonda, who began her acting career in 1960, hasn't showed any signs of slowing down. In 2023, she starred in the football comedy "80 for Brady" alongside Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno, as well as the rom-com "Book Club: The Next Chapter."

In 2024, she appeared in singer Jennifer Lopez's pop musical "This Is Me… Now."

"I'm afraid of dying with a lot of regrets," Fonda said on the "IMO" podcast. "I watched my dad die with a lot of regrets. That was an important realization for me because if you don't want to die with regrets, then you have to live the last part of your life in such a way that there won't be any regrets."

But aside from a busy calendar, Fonda wants to be "surrounded by people who love me" and practice "forgiveness," which includes the self-compassion of "forgiving myself."

"I think that old age is fantastic if it's lived intentionally," Fonda said. "Intentionality is the key, really thinking about it."

If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Jane Fonda didn't think she'd 'live past 30'

Reporting by Edward Segarra, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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