It's not easy to make Elizabeth Banks nervous.
But she admitted she was last night when she helped present the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film to Jane Fonda.
"In preparing this speech I was planning on coming up here and cracking jokes because that's what I do and I would inevitably veer into inappropriate territory. Jane likes that kind of thing, but then I realized you do not want to bomb in front of Jane," the Pitch Perfect 2 director said at the event, which took place at the Bacara Resort & Spa.
Banks gushed about the Oscar winner, "She is a certified broad who collects wonderful women. She is outspoken, no-nonsense and trailblazing and she has had enough amazing experiences to fill five lifetimes."
And Banks proclaimed, "9 to 5 is f--king great!"
Diane Lane also spoke. "Recently, during promotional requirements for a movie, I was asked who Wonder Woman is to me," she said. "What do you think my answer was? Jane Fonda."
After a short video message from 98-year-old Kirk Douglas, Fonda took to the stage.
Fonda recalled leaving the business when she married her now ex-husband Ted Turner.
"I didn't miss it for a second," said Fonda, 77. "But I came back at 65, which is pretty unusual, and I feel very, very blessed that I was able to have a new career so late in life and, as a result, be able to spend time with people who are so profoundly inspired, moving and talented."
Fonda's critically acclaimed work in the upcoming Youth will likely earn her many nominations this awards season, including an Oscar nom for Best Supporting Actress.
Youth is in theaters Dec. 4.