Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen Discuss Retirement
Three of Hollywood's most working women have no plans to slack down anytime soon. ET's Matt Cohen spoke with Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen about their upcoming sequel, Book Club: The Next Chapter, as well as their lengthy history in the film business.
The famous actresses are resuming their roles in the Book Club world – the sequel will be released in theaters on May 12 – but this time, they are heading to Italy on an exciting voyage on and off the pages!
Bergen describes filming in Italy, which took place in both Rome and Venice, as "heaven."
"We had a great time and agreed to meet for dinner after work." We'd go to small weird eateries and get lost on the way back. "It was just fantastic," Bergen added.
The co-stars ate everything Italian, including pistachio gelato, affogato, and, of course, Aperol spritz!
When questioned about their prospects in the film business, Fonda, 76, Bergen, and Steenburgen, 70, all said they have no intentions to retire, with Fonda joking, "Golf?!"
Fonda spoke on how performing continues to thrill and push her artistically.
"The great thing about acting is that you're invited to come in and become another person," she explained. "You must enter that other person with a great deal of empathy." It's just so difficult to figure out who I'm meant to be and what she was like as a youngster. That type of character discovery brings me a lot of delight."
Steenburgen agreed with her co-star, calling acting the "ultimate puzzle."
With decades of experience in the industry, Fonda, Bergen, and Steenburgen understand that it's a team sport and are sympathetic to the current writers' strike impacting film and television production.
"Everything has changed in terms of making money in this town," said Fonda. "We all understand why they are striking, and we support and wish them well." "This is a difficult time for Hollywood's lower-level employees," she concluded.
"We are nowhere without our writers," Steenburgen said.
The film Book Club: The Next Chapter, starring Fonda, Bergen, Steenburgen, and Diane Keaton, will be released in theaters on May 12.