Ep 1: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin

Let’s kick start the series of “Women Talking” with a TED sit down between my favorites Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. How I first became aware of Jane was not through any of her films, but by picking up her autobiography- My Life So Far, from the British Council Library in Pune. I was 19 years old and it was the first of many autobiographies I would go on to read. Since then, I have read her book about 5 times.

We do not share the same backgrounds or life experiences, but her candid admissions and thoughts on love, self esteem, ambition, politics and life’s purpose envelopes me with a warm consolatory blanket as if to say- you will figure them out too! Thanks to the book, I spent most of my early 20s binge watching her films, YouTubing her speeches and interviews and of course sweating to the Jane Fonda full body workout.

Sometime at age 23, I watched this riot of a film called Big Business. Of course I watched it for Bette Midler, but came out falling in love with Lily Tomlin. Repeating my fangirl curiosity on YouTube, I found Lily’s stand up acts and routines are killer and sharp. Today’s comedians should watch her and hone their craft instead of flapping about on twitter, spewing bile in between celebrity feuds.

Not many of my peers know of such gems who ruled the roost from the 60s to the 80s. But thanks to creative producers like Netflix and the golden era in Hollywood, the yesteryear icons are returning with material that is worthy of their comeback. Jane delivered quite the punch as Leona Lansing in the Newsroom and now she is stuck at the hip with Lily in Grace and Frankie.

Here is their TED talk about health, friendship and well… women.