# The “absurd, horrible” 1960s moment Jane Fonda called the worst of her career: “I pretended I didn’t understand”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-absurd-horrible-1960s-moment-jane-fonda-called-the-worst-of-her-career-i-pretended-i-didnt-understand/
- Published: 2026-10-30T19:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T20:37:04+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1960s-moment-jane-fonda-called-worst-of-her-career/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Fonda said a director made an inappropriate demand during a film meeting.
- She pretended not to understand him and avoided complying.
- She later named director René Clément.

## Summary

Jane Fonda has described an encounter with a French director as the worst and most “absurd, horrible” moment of her career. While discussing a possible film role, he asked to see what she looked like having an orgasm, using his position to make an inappropriate personal demand.

Fonda said she spoke French fluently but pretended not to understand him, and he did not get his way. She later identified the director as René Clément, who went on to direct her in the 1964 thriller Joy House, her first European film. The account highlights the abuse of power that persisted in film, despite the era’s growing visibility for women’s experiences and sexuality.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.