This is a hard blog to write. I have been in Atlanta for 19 years. It has been my home and I have been very happy here. I came here with Ted Turner and when we separated, I stayed. It’s been 10 years since then. I built myself a loft that I truly thought would be my home till I died. I love it so. My daughter, my soon-to-be son-in-law and my two grandchildren live here. My 2 non-profits are here: The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and The Jane Fonda Center at the Emory School of Medicine where the focus is on adolescent reproductive health and sexuality. So you see, my decision to move to Los Angeles has not been easy.

I went to L.A. to have knee replacement surgery last June and stayed for my rehab and recovery. It didn’t take long for me to see that decision makers in the film industry didn’t realize I still wanted to work in film. I was out of the business for many years while I was married to Ted Turner. And then, while I was almost finished writing my memoirs, I decided it was time to be an actor again. I made “Monster-in-Law,” followed by “Georgia Rule”–2 movies in 10 years. That’s too few, but I couldn’t seem to find films I wanted to do and that was partly because producers and directors didn’t know I was available. Out of sight is out of mind. That’s when I realized I had to live there. I do have family there as well…my son, daughter-in-law and stepmother –and I’m in a loving relationship with Richard Perry. A lot was beckoning me just as a lot was pulling me to stay in Atlanta.

Already my work situation has changed: I will be in several movies this year with a few more in the works. Also, by making movies again—and more often— G-CAPP will have more premieres as fundraising events like we used to.

I will be coming back often to my adopted city. I am still Chair of G-CAPP (we have co-chairs to help me do the things that an absent Chair can’t do). I intend to be fully involved. I still have friends and family here. There are plenty of important reasons to bring me back often.

Tomorrow, I will put photos on this blog of my loft in case someone is interested in renting or buying.

Whew! I never thought this day would come.

I flew to Paris from Dusseldorf the morning after the UNESCO event first to have an interview with Annabelle, the Swiss magazine that is similar to our Marie Claire. This was at the behest of L’Oreal.

I wanted very much to take advantage of my first-class round trip ticket provided generously by UNESCO to stop by Paris. I am going to be making a French film in Paris in June and I had hoped the cast and director could arrange their schedules to have an introductory dinner together—give us all fantasies and mental images of our playmates between now and June. This will be my first film in French in almost 50 years!! It is a challenge I am greatly looking forward to and, I know, Vadim (my first French husband), will be very much with me during the shooting. It is a tender, humorous, charming story about two couples and another dear friend with whom the two women had once been lovers who, because of the financial and physical challenges of age, decide to all move in together. (As many seniors are doing these days) A young sociologist who is doing research on the lives of older people is invited to live with them as well. I play an American who has lived all her life in France and is a Professor of Philosophy at the Sorbonne.

Before the dinner, the author and film director, Stéphane Robelin and producer, Christophe Bruncher came to my hotel for drinks. I was startled by how young they both are, Stéphane is 39 and Christophe is 35. Just about the age of my children. This will be Stéphane’s first film but he has an air of confidence and creative vision that made me feel I will be safe. I think it’s fair to say we felt very comfortable together by the time we left for dinner.

Christophe, our producer, and Stéphane, our writer/director

We drove up the hill to the top of Montmartre where the iconic church, the round-domed Sacre Coeur, sits imposingly.

Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur

The first person I saw when I entered the dining room was Geraldine Chaplin who, with her Chilean cinematographer husband had come in from Switzerland for the evening. I was so excited when I learned she was going to be in the film as I have always wanted to meet her. I was on stage with her father the night he made his triumphant return to Hollywood to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oscars—the same night I won mine for “Klute.” I am really looking forward to getting to know Geraldine during the filming. I like the way she has done her life.

Daniel Bruhl, the new German star who appeared most recently in Quentin Tarrantino’s film with Brad Pitt, was able to fly in from Germany to be with us. Daniel will play the young researcher who moves in with us and with whom I develop a close friendship. I found Daniel’s presence sweet, attentive and soulful. Perfect for the role.

German star, Daniel Bruhl

Guy Bedos, the renown French actor, came to the dinner right from the theatre where he is performing a one-man show. The beloved French comedian, Pierre Richard, was there looking appropriately hirsute, sweet and bohemian to play the role of my husband. Only Claude Rich was not able to join us because he is touring in a play. This experienced, international cast brings heft and deep talent to our small, independent film. Most importantly, we could all tell that the seeds have been planted for real camaraderie and fun…and a lot of fine red wine.

Pierre Richard drove away in the rain on his motor bike and I went “home”“ for a few hours sleep before making the final trek back to Richard.

Guy Bedos and Pierre Richard...what handsome guys!

Pierre Richard, my 'husband'

I took a fancy to Geraldine's sneakers

Diane Von Furstenberg came backstage after the show, very moved, enthusiastic and generous about the play.

Moises was here tonight, too. It’s been 2 weeks since he’s seen the play. He felt good about it but has notes that he’ll give us tomorrow. I will call him when I wake up. I love getting his feedback. His mother was with him and it made me feel good when she whispered to me that she thought I had gotten better in the role. Well, it does happen that, with time, we can sink deeper into it. I guess it could get stale, too. But the themes of this play continue to inspire me. Not that every performance is optimum but every performance can be informed-infused- with the beauty of the themes.

I told Moises that I blogged the other day about feeling abandoned by him and jealous that he was on to new projects. I was interested that he, in turn, said that tonight, watching the play, he felt “abandoned” in the sense that the play, like a fledgling bird, has grown wings and is flying without him. I can understand that. I had somewhat the same sensation when I cut about 300 pages from my memoir prior to it’s being published. I read it as though looking through someone else’s glasses so that it became removed from me–someone else’s story. It is an extremely interesting process, this process of creation, and I feel so fortunate to be part of a creative community.

I gotta say, before I sign off, I would kill for Diane Von Furstenberg’s cheekbones. OMG!!

See ya next time.