Jane Fonda Reveals Why “Monster-in-Law ”Was a ‘Challenging Shoot:' 'Not Just Cause I Had to Keep Slapping Jennifer Lopez’

Friendships forged connected the group of Monster-in-Law last forever.

At Vanity Fair's Power of Women 2025 arena connected Oct. 29, Jane Fonda recalled nan intolerable task of not giggling while connected nan Monster-in-Law set, wherever she met pal Wanda Sykes 20 years ago.

While introducing Sykes — who played Ruby, nan adjunct to Fonda's character, Viola, successful nan movie — arsenic 1 of this year's honorees, Fonda shed ray connected her and Sykes' silly behind-the-scenes moments.

The 2005 movie saw Charlotte (Jennifer Lopez) get engaged to nan man of her dreams, Kevin (Michael Vartan), but she soon finds nan wedding readying shape is heavy taken complete by her soon-to-be mother-in-law, "the monster" Viola (Fonda).

"It was a challenging sprout — not conscionable 'cause I had to support slapping Jennifer Lopez — 'cause I had to support a consecutive look erstwhile moving pinch Wanda," Fonda said successful her speech.

"We some liked to improvise, truthful I ne'er knew what she was going to say. And I swear, each return would get funnier and funnier," she added.

During 1 now-iconic segment successful nan rom-com, Fonda and Lopez went backmost and forth, slapping each different aft nan erstwhile shows up successful achromatic to her son's wedding — leaving nan 87-year-old with a real-life trim connected her face.

After countless hilarious moments connected set, Fonda noted that Sykes became 1 of her "favorite group successful nan full world," and praised her arsenic some a skilled character and a dedicated activistic who paved nan measurement for those coming aft her.

"I've been successful nan business a infinitesimal now, and I've seen galore group who tin scope definite heights and hide each astir who they are and wherever they came from. Wanda is not 1 of those," Fonda said. "She has ever worked difficult to unfastened doors, and she tin unfastened [doors] for group aft her."

"Wanda stands up for nan LGBTQ+ community, and everything she does, she useful pinch unthinkable organizations for illustration nan Ruth Alice Center, which useful to create a supportive situation and organization for LGBTQ+ young people," she continued. "And each she asks for successful return is her beautiful look connected nan screen of Variety."

Never miss a communicative — motion up for PEOPLE's free regular newsletter to enactment up-to-date connected nan champion of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from personage news to compelling quality liking stories.

When Fonda handed nan mic complete to her friend, Sykes likewise sang her praises, exhibiting their close, hilarious enslaved that's grown complete nan years.

Sykes shared that, recently, she tried to drawback up pinch Fonda complete meal while she was visiting Los Angeles. Fonda replied, arsenic Sykes recalled, "I would emotion that, but I'll beryllium successful nan Amazon gathering pinch nan Indigenous group to talk astir ambiance change."

At that, Sykes recalled a sentiment her pastor erstwhile shared pinch her.

"God doesn't nonstop you things. He sends you people," Sykes recalled him saying. "Yeah. So, I realized past that God sent Jane to make america each consciousness s----y astir ourselves. We request to beryllium amended folks."