"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 realised 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 and Spa.
Banks gushed about the Oscar winner.
After a short video message from 98-year-old Kirk Douglas, Fonda took to the stage. The actress 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.