Jane Fonda On 'Cloud Nine' After Film Award

Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda said she is on "cloud nine" after being honoured with a lifetime achievement film award.

The star was honoured by the American Film Institute's (AFI) at a gala in Los Angeles attended by her China Syndrome co-star Michael Douglas, his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and many other Hollywood stars.

The actress, activist and exercise guru said she was overwhelmed: "Whoa, I mean it's hard for me to even believe this is happening, I keep wanting to look over my shoulder to see, not me.

"I gave it to Bette Davis, I gave it to Barbara Stanwyck, my father and I can't believe, I never thought that I would receive this honour one day, so I feel like I'm on cloud nine."

Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Sandra Bullock, Lily Tomlin and Cameron Diaz were among the actresses at the ceremony.

Jeff Daniels, her co-star in The Newsroom, sang a song with the refrain "abs, butt and thighs," and Wanda Sykes, in a Barbarella costume, was carried on stage by a man dressed as a winged angel.

Fonda is the daughter of legendary actor Henry Fonda and comes from a family of stars including her younger brother Peter Fonda and niece Bridget Fonda.

The 76-year-old made her screen debut in the 1960 film Tall Story and went on to a highly acclaimed acting career, earning her eight Oscar nods and two golden statuettes.

The first was for best actress in 1972 for Klute, the second for 1979's anti-Vietnam War drama, Coming Home.

She was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. In 1972 she made a trip to North Vietnam and was photographed laughing with Vietnamese soldiers.

The photos caused international outrage especially among veterans, and earned her the nickname "Hanoi Jane".

Fonda has apologised many times for her actions, calling them "unforgivable", but the scandal has followed her to this day. A small group of protesters stood on Hollywood Boulevard directly across from Thursday's red carpet event where Fonda was being honoured.

Fonda is also known for her highly successful workout videos in the 1980s, earning her the title fitness guru at the time.

In 1991, she announced her retirement from acting, but returned some 15 years later to star in the 2005 hit Monster-in-Law.

In April 2013 the actress placed her hand and foot prints into cement next to those of her late father on Hollywood Boulevard.