Grace and Frankie: Inside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's real-life friendship | HELLO! (2024)

Grace and Frankie is one of those shows that never gets old and fans have been loving the final episodes of season seven that were released on Netflix in May.

MORE:Grace and Frankie fans in tears over show's ending

Part of the comedy's charm is the titular characters' clear chemistry on-screen, but the stars have been firm friends for a number of years. To celebrate their career and bond, we've taken a look back at the friendship over the years…

WATCH: Are you a fan of Grace and Frankie?

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's early friendship

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin become acquainted after Jane saw Lily performing in a Broadway play and Jane immediately knew she wanted to work with her. According to reports, Lily was already a big fan of Jane's due to her staunch activism and acting career long before they met.

MORE:See what the cast of Grace and Frankie looked like at the start of their careers

MORE:Grace and Frankie: why the show is ending after season seven

Jane then cast Lilyin her film, 9 to 5. "I totally changed the idea for 9 to 5 because of her. I said, 'I don't want to make a movie about secretaries if she's not in it,'" Jane told the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The film, which also starred Dolly Parton, opened in 1980 and was a huge success, and cemented the decades-long friendship between Jane and Lily. "We've been friends ever since. We're friends because I just love her. I know Jane has my back whenever she can," said Lily to the Washington Post.

Grace and Frankie: Inside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's real-life friendship | HELLO! (1)© Photo: Getty Images

Jane and Lily at the premiere of 9 to 5

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's later friendship

Over the next four decades, the two would continue not just to work together but to support each other's work. The pair would often be seen attending red carpet events together, presidential galas and awards shows.

MORE: 5 shows to watch if you love Grace and Frankie

In 2014, Jane, along with other stars such as Kate McKinnon and Jane Lynch, appeared on stage at the Kennedy Centre Honors to share fond memories and commemorate the work of their friend, Lily. During an appearance on The Jimmy KimmelShow, Jane said of Lily: "She always says something really funny. I cannot believe the funny-bone that she has, and I have loved her since the moment I saw her."

Jane and Lily have a close bond

The two have attendedactivist protests together to raise awareness for social causes they care about including the Women's March and events that campaignfor equal pay. The pair are considered inspirational and influential figures of Hollywood and even did a Ted Talk together celebrating female friendships.

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin: Grace and Frankie

In 2015, the two debuted the first series of Grace and Frankie taking on the roles of Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein, two unlikely friends who come together after their husbands announce that they are in love with each other and plan to marry. The show has been a huge hit over the past six seasons and happens to be the longest-running Netflix original series.

Fans were even more thrilled this month when four new episodes landed, with the stars themselves announcing that more were on the way.The actresses made the exciting announcement on social media via the official Twitter account for Netflix informing viewers that they wanted to give audiencessomething "special" while they finish filming the season.

Grace and Frankie: Inside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's real-life friendship | HELLO! (3)© Photo: Netflix

The first four episodes of season seven are out now

Jane said: "As you know, we've been filming the final season of Grace and Frankie," as Lily interjected: "That's the second thing. We've got to tell them the first thing," adding: "The first four episodes of season seven are out now."

"But don't worry there's plenty more to come. We just wanted to give you something special until we finish the rest of the season," finished Jane, as she then humorously rolled her eyes at her co-stars's witty comments.

Grace and Frankie: Inside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's real-life friendship | HELLO! (4)© Photo: Rex

Jane and Lily in Grace and Frankie

The two leading ladies have commented on their friendship being so key to the success of Grace and Frankie. Shortly after the series premiered in 2015, Lily told Oprah.com: "People say we have a lot of chemistry. That's because you can sense that Jane and I have been friends for so long. We have a soft spot for each other."

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Grace and Frankie: Inside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's real-life friendship | HELLO! (2024)

FAQs

Is Jane Fonda really friends with Lily Tomlin? ›

Her work has previously appeared in Boston Magazine. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have been friends for nearly five decades.

Did Jane Fonda wear a wig during Grace and Frankie? ›

“In real life, Jane was ready to let her natural hair color grow out as well.” Throughout the final episodes, Fonda is wearing her natural gray bob.

Are Grace and Frankie friends in real life? ›

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Tomlin and Fonda actually are great friends in real life, but they're not exactly like the women the play. For instance, Fonda doesn't drink nearly as much as Grace.

How many times have Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin worked together? ›

They're multi-time costars

After seven seasons starring in the Netflix sitcom Grace and Frankie, they worked on two more films together: 80 for Brady (with Sally Field and Rita Moreno) and Moving On. Tomlin has said that their lengthy professional relationship is, in part, a result of Fonda's fearless personality.

Are Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda friends? ›

Dolly Parton's teaming up with a who's who of pop icons from the '80s for a new song from the upcoming film 80 for Brady. The new movie features her 9 to 5 co-stars — and longtime friends — Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, along with her Steel Magnolias compadre Sally Field and the iconic Rita Moreno.

Who is Lily Tomlin's lover? ›

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner have had a creative and romantic spark since they met in 1971. Their chemistry stems from their shared outlooks on life. "We share similar feelings about people and about the world.

Has Jane Fonda had any facial surgery? ›

Fonda Recommends Good Facials, Subtle Cosmetic Surgery

At the beginning of her career, she decided to have breast implants, and then a full facelift in her 40's, with a second face lift in her 70's.

Why did Jane Fonda stop coloring her hair? ›

"Enough already, so much time wasted, so much money spent, so many chemicals. I'm through with that." Fonda also claimed that she only started to spot grey hairs a year ago at the age of 82, meaning that she retained her natural blonde colour for decades. DeGeneres was pretty impressed with Fonda's age-defying looks.

Does Jane Fonda wear false eyelashes? ›

“Jane uses Latisse, and her lashes are so incredibly long that it is a dream for artists to curl those like crazy. Fake lashes are actually shorter than her natural lashes, but we sometimes add them for density.”

Who does Lisa Kudrow play in Grace and Frankie? ›

Kudrow plays Sheree, Grace's (Jane Fonda) manicurist-turned-tenant. Her "cute" tastes run to Thomas Kinkade-inspired tablescapes, candy-colored figurines and garish nail polish designed to match the view from Grace's beachfront abode. Frankie (Lily Tomlin) returns from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to find this atrocious.

Is the house in Grace and Frankie real? ›

The beach house seen on the popular Netflix series Grace and Frankie is a real beach house that was designed by the architect Steve Giannetti of Giannetti Home, completed in 2003. Steve Giannetti was made famous for his ability to bring contemporary styles and antics together in one place.

Is Frankie's hair real in Grace and Frankie? ›

And by the way, did you know that Frankie's fabulous hair on the show is a wig! Here are a few of our favorite Frankie looks this season.

Did Henry Fonda get along with Jane? ›

His daughter Jane rejected her father's friendships with Republican actors such as John Wayne and James Stewart. Their relationship became extremely strained as Jane Fonda became a left-wing activist. Jane Fonda reported feeling detached from her father, especially during her early acting days.

Did Henry Fonda leave anything to Jane Fonda? ›

He specifically left nothing to his other two children, the actors Peter and Jane Fonda, who he had fathered with his second wife.

How many children did Jane Fonda give birth to? ›

Jane has three children, two she birthed naturally during each of her marriages, and one she adopted with her second husband.

Who is Jane Fonda's BFF? ›

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have one of the longest female friendships in Hollywood. It all started when Fonda went backstage at Tomlin's one-woman comedy show, "Appearing Nitely," at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Are Grace and Frankie sisters or friends? ›

The series stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the eponymous Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein, two aging women who form an unlikely friendship after their husbands reveal they are in love with each other and plan to get married.

Was Grace and Frankie written for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin? ›

Grace and Frankie was created by the writers, not by Lily Tomlin and me,” Fonda asserted. “In fact, I had very, very little to do with the creation of the scripts as we went along.” Still, that doesn't mean her life didn't serve as inspiration, especially considering the actor provided the writers with her book.

Are Jane Fonda and Ted Turner friends? ›

Fonda wrote at length about her marriage to Turner in her memoir "My Life So Far," and Turner adds a similar take without referring to the infidelities alleged against him by the Academy Award-winning actress. The two say they remain good friends.

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