Jane Fonda admits that it has been a "tough year" following the losses of her friends Gene Hackman, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton.

The 87-year-old star says that the sadness at the passings of the trio - in February, September and October respectively - has been hard for her to bear.

Speaking to People at the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power's EmPower Party, Jane said: "It's been a tough year."

She added of Hackman: "You know, there's him and Redford.

"He came down her to support GCAPP. And we screened Barefoot in the Park."

The Barbarella star continued: "And Diane Keaton - I just finished working with her. Boy, I was shocked. Really shocked. You get to be old and everybody is dying around you."

Fonda issued an emotional statement following Redford's passing at the age of 89, describing how she couldn't "stop crying" after learning of her Barefoot in the Park co-star's death.

She said: "It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can't stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for."

The Coming Home actress also remembered her Book Club co-star Keaton as a "spark of life and light" following her death aged 79 last month.

She shared a photo of her friend on Instagram and wrote: "It's hard to believe…or accept…that Diane has passed.

"She was always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative…in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her world view. Unique is what she was. And, though she didn't know it or wouldn't admit it, man she was a fine actress!(sic)"

Meanwhile, Jane previously joked that she'll be doing her "own stunts" in her 90s as she reflected on a "weird career" that saw her take a 15-year break from acting.

Speaking during her Lifetime Achievement award speech at the SAG Awards in February, she said: "This means the world to me, you can't know. Thank you SAG-AFTRA. And your enthusiasm makes this seem, I don't know, less like a twilight of my life and more like a 'go girl, kick ass -- which is good because I'm not done.'

"I have had a really weird career, totally unstrategic. I retired for 15 years then came back at 65 which is not usual, I made one of my most successful movies in my 80s and probably in my 90s I'll be doing my own stunts in an action movie.

"Have you ever heard the phrase, it's ok to be a late bloomer as long as you don't miss the flower show. I'm a late bloomer, this is the flower show."