Jane Fonda reveals why ‘Monsters in Law’ was a ‘challenging shoot’

The friendships forged on the set of Monster-in-Law will last forever.

At Vanity Fair’s Power of Women 2025 event on October 29, Jane Fonda recalled the impossible task of not laughing on the set of Monsters in Law, where she met her friend Wanda Sykes 20 years ago.

Introducing Sykes, who played Fonda’s Viola’s assistant Ruby in the film, as one of this year’s honorees, Fonda shed light on her and Sykes’ silly behind-the-scenes stories.

In the 2005 film, Charlotte (Jennifer Lopez) becomes engaged to the man of her dreams, Kevin (Michael Vartan), but soon discovers that her soon-to-be mother-in-law, the “monster” Viola (Fonda), has taken over much of the wedding planning process.

“It was a challenging shoot because not only did I have to keep slapping Jennifer Lopez, but I also had to keep a straight face when working with Wanda,” Fonda said in a speech.

“We both liked to improvise, so we had no idea what she was going to say, and I swear it got funnier and funnier with each take,” she added.

In an iconic scene from the romantic comedy, Fonda and Lopez show up at their son’s wedding dressed in white, then they walk back and forth and slap each other, causing Lopez, 87, to actually get a cut on his face.

After countless hilarious moments on set, Fonda said Sykes had become one of her “favorite people in the whole world,” praising her as both an accomplished actress and a dedicated activist who paved the way for those who came after her.

“I’ve been in this business for a while and I’ve seen a lot of people who reach certain heights and then forget everything about who they are and where they came from. Wanda is not one of them,” Fonda said. “She has always worked hard to open doors, and she can open (doors) for those who come after her.”

“Wanda represents the LGBTQ+ community, and everything she does is in collaboration with amazing organizations like the Ruth Alice Center that work to create a supportive environment and community for LGBTQ+ youth,” she continued. “And all she wants in return is a pretty face on the cover of Variety magazine.”

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When Fonda handed the microphone to her friend, Sykes praised her as well, demonstrating their close and playful bond that has developed over the years.

Sykes revealed that he recently tried to approach Fonda over dinner while she was visiting Los Angeles. According to Sykes’ recollection, Fonda responded, “That’s nice, but I’m going to attend a meeting with indigenous peoples in the Amazon to talk about climate change.”

Then Ms. Sykes remembered the sentiments her pastor had once told her.

“God doesn’t send you things; God sends you people,” Sykes recalled saying. “Yes. So I realized that God sent Jane to help us all feel better about ourselves. We need to be better people.”