Jane Fonda Champions Gulf Coast In Gaslit Battle

Jane Fonda, the legendary Oscar-winning actress and activist, is once again stepping into the spotlight—this time not for a film role, but for her unwavering commitment to environmental and social justice. As she nears her 89th birthday, Fonda is leading Gulf Coast communities in a high-stakes battle against the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, a struggle captured in the new documentary Gaslit. Produced by Greenpeace USA and directed by Katie Camosy, the film is set to make its world premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on February 5, 2026, according to Filmogaz.com.

Fonda’s activism is anything but performative. Her journey through the Gulf Coast, documented in Gaslit, reveals the deep health and environmental consequences of LNG production for local communities. The stakes are high: an analysis conducted by the Sierra Club and Greenpeace USA, as reported by Filmogaz.com, found that existing LNG terminals in the United States are responsible for approximately 60 premature deaths every year, with associated healthcare costs nearing $957 million. Should proposed expansions move forward, those numbers could rise dramatically—to an estimated 149 premature deaths and $2.33 billion in health expenses annually.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has been blunt in its assessment, stating that LNG is neither clean nor a viable low-emission energy source. The terminals, often built near biodiversity hotspots, disrupt delicate marine ecosystems through constant shipping traffic. The documentary doesn’t shy away from these facts, instead placing them front and center through the voices of frontline residents—shrimpers, cattle ranchers, and activists—whose daily lives are upended by the fossil fuel industry’s relentless expansion.

In the trailer for Gaslit, Fonda’s shock is palpable as she describes witnessing "massive clouds of methane" emissions. This isn’t just a technical problem, she argues; it’s a matter of justice and survival. "This isn’t just about energy; it’s about the survival of frontline communities," Fonda says in the film. Her words echo a broader call to action, urging Americans to listen to those who are too often ignored in national debates about energy policy.

Fonda’s activism extends well beyond environmental issues. On January 21, 2026, she appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, wearing a black shirt emblazoned with the word "Resist" in sparkling font—a sartorial nod to her decades-long commitment to political advocacy. During the interview, Fonda discussed her passion for climate justice, racial equality, and the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people, and Indigenous communities. She also referenced her recent efforts to restart the Committee for the First Amendment, a group originally formed in 1947 by her father, the legendary actor Henry Fonda, in response to the rise of McCarthyism.

Fonda’s activism, as she explained to Colbert, is deeply personal. "I feel better than I did when I was younger. I have more confidence than I did when I was younger," she told Marie Claire. Her sense of purpose has only grown as she’s aged—a perspective shaped by her experiences in Hollywood and by the wisdom imparted from icons like Katharine Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve. Hepburn, Fonda recalled, once told her, "This is your box, your container, what do you want to say to the world with your container?" The lesson was clear: how one presents oneself to the world matters, and self-awareness can be a tool for change.

Fonda’s commitment to self-care is as deliberate as her activism. She credits Deneuve with teaching her the importance of moisturizing and switching up skin creams to avoid dryness—a tip she still follows today. "As I've gotten older, my skin and hair have become even drier. So keeping moisturized and protected with sunscreen is pretty important," Fonda told Glamour. These routines, though seemingly superficial, are part of a broader philosophy of staying healthy and vibrant in later life.

Health, for Fonda, is both a personal and a political matter. She’s faced her share of challenges—breast cancer, osteoporosis, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma among them—but remains steadfast in her pursuit of a full and active life. "Taking care of your health is very important. And for me, that means being active physically," she said. Just a day before her Colbert appearance, she recounted walking up and down the Champs-Élysées, eating fresh, healthy food, and getting enough sleep. "Once you're healthy…I've had lots of cancer, but the underlying foundation [is that] I'm healthy, so that allows me then to also do things in life that make me feel that I'm contributing to the world. When I die, I want to be able to feel I did my best," she told Marie Claire.

Her activism, then, is not just about fighting for external change, but also about living authentically and with intention. In Gaslit, Fonda is joined by fellow activists, including actress Connie Britton and performer Maggie Rogers, as they visit Gulf Coast communities and bear witness to the environmental and social costs of LNG expansion. The documentary’s director, Katie Camosy, underscores the urgency of their mission: "It is essential for the world to hear from those living through the climate crisis." The film, she hopes, will inspire viewers and provoke outrage over ongoing environmental injustices.

Yet, the struggle against LNG expansion is not just a local issue. It’s a microcosm of the broader battle over America’s energy future and the rights of communities to determine their own destinies. The documentary captures the resilience and determination of those who refuse to be silenced, even in the face of powerful industry interests.

For Fonda, the fight is as much about amplifying unheard voices as it is about policy change. She believes that the stories of everyday Americans—shrimpers, ranchers, and activists—are vital to understanding what’s at stake. Their experiences, she argues, reveal the true cost of fossil fuel dependence and the urgent need for a just transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.

As Gaslit prepares to make its debut, Fonda’s message is clear: the time for passive concern has passed. The health of communities, the integrity of ecosystems, and the future of the planet itself hang in the balance. Through her activism and her art, Fonda continues to challenge audiences to confront uncomfortable truths—and to join her in the fight for justice, dignity, and survival.

With her trademark blend of grace and grit, Jane Fonda is proving that age is no barrier to making a difference. Whether on the red carpet, the streets, or the frontlines of environmental battles, she remains a force to be reckoned with—and an inspiration to all who believe in the power of speaking out.