See Bridget Fonda’s surprising transformation in then-and-now in photos

Bridget was born into Hollywood royalty, with her dad being Peter Fonda, a famous actor in his own right and the son of industry icon Henry Fonda. She is also the niece of Oscar-winner Jane Fonda, and shares a close relationship with the star.

“At one time, there was nothing the press would have liked better than to set up a me vs Jane thing,” she told The Guardian in 2000. “They were desperate for us to be bitter rivals…although we’re close, I don’t see her that often.” Here she is pictured with her younger brother Justin, her father Peter, and her stepmother, Becky Fonda.

1988 marked a huge year for the newcomer, who starred in Scandal, You Can’t Hurry Love and Shag. At the time, she was 24 years old and already making waves thanks to her stunning looks and undeniable talent, and even picked up a Golden Globe nomination for Scandal.

As her star power began to rise, Bridget favored a blonde bob and sleek, masculine-style clothing like this pantsuit.

Bridget switched it up with a bold red bob for her part in Single White Female, which became one of her most recognizable roles.

The actress sported a brunette bob throughout 1993 and would return to the flattering look several times throughout her career.  

After switching between blonde and brunette for years, she opted to turn towards a more glamorous look for the 1997 Emmy Awards. Bridget channeled Old Hollywood style for the event, arriving in a chic pink-purple gown with feathered detailing and a bouffant hairstyle.

Bridget embraced her glamorous side once again in 2000 when she began to experiment with more classic, chic and eye-catching looks, like this one from the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.

By 2003, Bridget had begun to slowly retreat from public life and settle down with her new husband, composer Danny Elfman. The couple met in 1998 on the set of A Simple Plan, and quickly fell in love.

2003 also brought a terrifying car accident for Bridget. She was driving in California, flipped her car onto an embankment and rolled down the hill, which resulted in two fractured vertebrae. This solidified her decision to step away from acting altogether.

By 2006, Bridget was only seen on rare occasions, like at film premieres with her husband. They had welcomed their son, Oliver, in 2005, and were largely focused on parenting.

In 2009, Bridget made her final public appearance at the Inglourious Basterds premiere in August. She still embodied style with her eye-catching patterned dress, strappy heels and chic updo.

It wasn’t until 2025 that the Golden Globe nominee was seen again while running errands, looking worlds away from her days in the spotlight. Bridget now sported comfortable, casual clothes, glasses and gray hair, although she still exuded graceful beauty.

Bridget then resurfaced four months later during an errand run, looking incredibly slim and confident. The star still preferred to keep it casual with her outfit, and sported black trousers, a black shirt and a green jacket.

She has been open in the past about her insecurities, despite being one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses.

“What is it with my low self-esteem?” she said in a 2000 interview, as per The Independent. “I’m trying to be happy with my career. I think I should give myself a break, but I’ve got this bug that rides me. ‘You should be doing better.'”

“Every time I work, I’m frustrated with my physical inability to catch up to my mental picture,” she continued, before later adding that leaving the industry allowed her to learn self-acceptance.