Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden, 1973

They say opposites attract, so why not an actress and a politician? Although they aren’t exactly opposites, when iconic actress Jane Fonda and political activist Tom Hayden married in 1973, the world didn’t really know what to think. Both Fonda and Hayden were extreme activists during the 1970s. In 1972, Fonda gave a remarkable anti-war speech at a Vietnam protest and the pair began a courtship shortly after.

After 17 years of marriage with a mutual child, the two announced that they were ending their relationship; it was completely amicable. During a New York interview, Fonda reminisced, “He [Hayden] had this depth of knowledge, and he gave me structure and guidance, and I learned so much from him that I am forever grateful for. I miss him so much.”