Jane Fonda Accepts Her AFI Life Achievement Award in a Custom Vera Wang Gown

By Kelsey Glein
Updated Jun 06, 2014 @ 2:18 pm
Credit: Gary He/Insider Images

Members of the film community came together for last night's 42nd AFI Life Achievement Award gala honoring Jane Fonda. The Audi-sponsored event took place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif., and celebrated the actress's prolific career of diverse roles in more than 40 films that range from charming comedies to powerful dramas.

Attendees of the black-tie affair included Eva Longoria (in Sass & Bide), Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diane Lane, Rosario Dawson, Morgan Freeman, and more who recognized Fonda for much more than the onscreen characters she plays. "Jane is a woman that stands for something, and that's just something to look up to," Longoria tells InStyle. Lane also spoke of her friend at the event. "This woman, she's the best human being of my generation. Actually, of my lifetime I should say," she says. "She's generous, she's funny, she's sassy. She's motivated from a genuine place, and that's her power of example."

Guests dined on a delicious meal by Wolfgang Puck during the ceremony, as they were treated to moving speeches from Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz (in Stella McCartney), Michael Douglas, Meryl Streep, and Sally Field, among others, who all paid tribute to the Hollywood icon's many achievements. "If we're really honest with ourselves, I think we all here just find Jane annoying because everything she does, she does just a little better than any of us do it," Bullock jokes during her turn at the microphone. "Her posture's better, her divorces are better, her butt is better. It's like annoying annoying, annoying. She doesn't judge those she meets. She always keeping an open mind. Everyone is equal. She wins Academy Awards. She fights for causes and charities that have no life without her, and she takes on life's problems. She takes them on and doesn't see them as a weight. She sees them as a lesson. Annoying."

Fonda herself also spoke during the evening, where she expressed gratitude for those she has worked with over the years as well as those in attendance. "I think of the list of extraordinary people who've received this honor, and I'm so moved and really honored to be among them. I've been blessed to work with and know very many geniuses—real geniuses—actors and directors in our business, and I've had the great privilege to know them," Fonda (in a custom Vera Wang gown and Chopard jewels) says in her speech. "It means the world to me that you all came out tonight and spoke so generously and lovingly to me."

To see all the touching speeches, watch the AFI Life Achievement Award: Tribute to Jane Fonda on Saturday, June 14 at 9 p.m. EST/PT on TNT.

See more photos from the event in our gallery, plus celebrities at the rest of this week's hottest parties!

—With reporting by Brianna Deutsch

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Jane Fonda

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI

was honored a the 42nd AFI Life Achievement Award Gala in Hollywood, California, which paid tribute to her iconic career. "I think of the list of extraordinary people who've received this honor, and I'm so moved and really honored to be among them," Fonda (in a custom Vera Wang gown and Chopard jewels) says in her speech. "It means the world to me that you all came out tonight and spoke so generously and lovingly to me."

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Eva Longoria and Cameron Diaz

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI

came out to support Jane Fonda in style at the 42nd AFI Life Achievement Award Gala at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. "Jane is a woman that stands for something, and that's just something to look up to," Longoria tells InStyle. Both Longoria (in Sass & Bide) and Diaz (in Stella McCartney) gave touching speeches at the event in honor of Fonda.

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Sandra Bullock

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

spoke in honor of Jane Fonda at the 2014 AFI Life Achievement Award Gala, which was held in tribute to the iconic actress. "If we're really honest with ourselves, I think we all here just find Jane annoying because everything she does, she does just a little better than any of us do it," Bullock (in Vionnet) jokes during her turn at the microphone.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

also attended the 2014 AFI Life Achievement Award Gala, where Douglas spoke about Jane Fonda, the guest of honor. "I feel pretty confident that I speak for everyone here tonight in saying that when I think of Jane Fonda, the first thing that comes to mind is her fantastic, tremendous body – of work. And like all of you, I've stared at, thought about, and constantly admired that body we've all gotten to celebrate here this evening," he jokes in his speech.

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Diane Lane and Meryl Streep

Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI

both shared kind words about Jane Fonda at the 42nd AFI Life Achievement Award Gala. "This woman, she's the best human being of my generation. Actually, of my lifetime I should say," Lane tells InStyle. "She's generous, she's funny, she's sassy. She's motivated from a genuine place, and that's her power of example." Watch the ceremony when it airs on Saturday, June 14 at 9 p.m. EST/PT on TNT.

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Christian Siriano and Debra Messing

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were all smiles at the designer's resort 2015 preview party in New York City, where Siriano revealed the latest designs for his namesake label.

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Kate Beckinsale

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looked white hot in Monique Lhuillier at the after party celebrating the opening night of Macbeth on Broadway at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City.

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Jaime King

Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage

got in the soccer spirit at the 2014 FIFA World Cup McDonald's launch party at Pillars 38 in New York City.

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Jenny Slate

Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images

showed off a stunning dress at a special screening of A24’s Obvious Child in Los Angeles, in which she stars.

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Emma Roberts and Evan Peters

Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival At Wailea

enjoyed the gorgeous scenery on the second day of the 2014 Maui Film Festival in Wailea, Hawaii, where Roberts (in Dsquared2) received the Maui Film Festival Shining Star accolade.

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Taylor Schilling

Credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

came out for TheWrap's First Annual Emmy Party held at The London in West Hollywood, California, where she dazzled in a LWD by A.L.C.

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Maria Menounos

Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Hint Water

celebrated at the launch party for her new book The Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness, which was hosted by Hint Water at the Trina Turk boutique in New York City.

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Channing Tatum

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looked dapper in a plaid suit at the New York City premiere of his film 22 Jump Street, which was hosted by FIJI Water and Entertainment Weekly. The movie is filled with laugh out loud moments and plenty of shenanigans, and so was the time spent shooting it. "Everyday on set I was just trying to make Jonah’s day harder," Tatum says of his costar Jonah Hill. "It wasn't one specific prank, but pretty much everyday I would play any fun prank on him that I could." Look for it in theaters June 13, 2014.

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Jessica Seinfeld and Jane Krakowski

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

came out for the 2014 Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash sponsored by Sprout in New York City. Seinfeld hosted the event along with her husband Jerry Seinfeld that raised over $585,000 for the non-profit, which is dedicated to providing families in need with essential equipment, products, clothing, and services for their children. "We just keep being loved and supported by wonderful, generous families and we keep growing and growing," Seinfeld says of the organization. "We hate that the need is always there for us to meet, but we feel gratified that there are always people that help support our growth."

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Lupita Nyong'o, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Manganiello and Emma Roberts

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hung loose at the Opening Night Reception for the 2014 Maui Film Festival in Wailea, Hawaii. The group was casual-chic, with Nyong'o in a bright Calvin Klein Collection frock, Wood in Roland Mouret, Manganiello in a cotton tee, and Roberts in a beachy white ensemble.

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Max Minghella and Kate Mara

Credit: Courtesy of Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

celebrated the launch of Gucci's long-awaited make up line, Gucci Cosmetics, at a private cocktail party in New York City. Mara rocked a design by the label for the event, which was hosted by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini and took place at the Carlyle Hotel.

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Solange

Credit: Courtesy of Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

also stepped out for the launch of Gucci Cosmetics in a hot pink ensemble by the brand.

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James Van Der Beek and Brooklyn Decker

Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

were all smiles at the 2014 CMT Music Awards after party at the Rosewall in Nashville, Tennessee. Both Van Der Beek and Decker (in a Jill Stuart dress and Kendra Scott earrings) presented at the awards show earlier in the evening.

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Alessandra Ambrosio

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made a fashionable appearance at the Orlando 30 Year Anniversary Party in Los Angeles, California.

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Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner

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signed copies of their new novel Rebels: City Of Indra: The Story of Lex And Livia at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York city.

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Azealia Banks

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supported a worthy cause at the Songs Of Hope X 10th Anniversary Event benefitting City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer research and treatment center.

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Ashley Greene

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looked radiant at the STK Los Angeles 6th Anniversary Party held at the restaurant's location in the city.

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Prosper Assouline, Ariel Foxman, Nancy MacDonell, Marigay McKee and Brian Atwood

Credit: Neil Rasmus/BFAnyc.com

celebrated MacDonell's The Shoe Book at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. The author was on-hand to sign copies of her gorgeous book at the event, which was hosted by InStyle, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Assouline.

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Blake Lively, Solange and Beyoncé

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were a stylish trio at the Chime for Change event celebrating the one-year anniversary of The Sound of Change Live at Gucci Fifth Avenue in New York City. The organization funds projects for girls and women in the areas of education, health, and justice around the world.

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James Franco and Frida Giannini

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also supported a good cause at the Chime for Change event, which was hosted by Giannini who is Gucci's creative director.

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Chrissy Teigen

Credit: Gary Gershoff/WireImage

came out for the 2014 Gordan Parks Foundation Awards Dinner & Auction in New York City. All proceeds from the event went towards permanently preserving the work of Gordon Parks and making them readily available to the public.

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Jaime King

Credit: Elle Jota/BFANYC.com

stepped out for the GRACE MMXIII party held in honor of their resort 2015 collection at the Nomad Hotel in New York City.

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Selita Ebanks

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attended the 23rd Annual Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award that honored Jane Rosenthal in New York City.

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Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort

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celebrated at the world premiere of their film The Fault in Our Stars in New York City. Based on John Green's best selling book of the same name, the movie tells the story of two star-crossed teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster (Woodley) and Augustus Waters (Elgort), who fall in love after meeting in a cancer support group. The tearjerker hits theaters June 6, 2014.

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Blake Lively, Michael Kors and Karlie Kloss

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were a stylish trio as they celebrated after the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.

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Christian Siriano and Coco Rocha

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struck a fierce pose at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards after party, which was held atop the Standard Hotel in New York City.

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Diane Kruger

Credit: Pablo Frisk/mytheresa.com x Diane Kruger Dinner

was the guest of honor at an intimate dinner hosted by mytheresa.com to celebrate the announcement of Kruger (in Giambattista Valli) being named t