JANE FONDA’s startling public confession that her mother, who committed suicide at age 42, hid a dark secret.
Fonda told a stunned an audience of activists and philanthropists celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Rape Treatment Center that her mother had been sexually abused as a child.
The “Cat Ballou” star said that while writing her memoirs, Jane had reviewed her mother's medical records. To her horror, she learned her mom, Frances Ford Seymour, had been sexually abused when she was 8 years old.
Her mom and dad Henry Fonda’s wife committed suicide when Jane was 12. (Henry was performing “Mr. Roberts” on Broadway and shockingly went on stage after learning his wife’s sudden death.)
"The minute that I read that, everything fell into place," Jane confessed.