United Kingdom, Jan. 2 -- Jane Fonda told Mary Steenburgen to embrace ageing during one of their early meetings.

The 72-year-old actress first crossed paths with Jane when they worked on the set of the 2018 comedy-romance movie, Book Club, and the 88-year-old Hollywood legend wanted to know if Mary was fully committed to friendship because time gets more limited with age.

Mary recalled to People: "When we became friends, I remember her almost walking out the front gate and then turning around, looking at me and saying, 'Are we going to be friends?'

"And I said, 'Yes.' And she said, 'Now don't just say it by rote. Are you going to be intentional? We've got to be. Because at my age, I have to be intentional.'

"And I looked at the fierce...