Jane Fonda defends 'woke' at SAG Awards, rallies Hollywood to 'resist' Trump

"What we [actors] create is empathy," Fonda said. "Our job is to understand another human being so profoundly that we can touch their souls."

She described how actors have to relate to their characters, even unlikable ones who are "bullies" and "misogynists."

Fonda urged her fellow actors to have empathy for people who would be "really hurt" by the new administration's actions, even if those people "were of a different political persuasion."

"We need to call upon our empathy and not judge but listen from our hearts, and welcome them into our tent. Because we are going to need a big tent to resist successfully what's coming at us," she said.

The 87-year-old actress compared the present moment to other times in recent history when Hollywood fought back against those in power in Washington.

The liberal actress rallied her peers to "be brave" because now was their "moment" to make a difference.

"Have any of you ever watched a documentary of one of the great social movements - like Apartheid or our Civil Rights movement or Stonewall - and ask yourself, would you have been brave enough to walk the bridge?" she asked.

"We don't have to wonder anymore because we are in our documentary moment," she continued. "This is it, and it's not a rehearsal!"

"We mustn't for a moment kid ourselves about what's happening. This is big time serious, folks," she said. "So let's be brave."

Fonda concluded her speech by calling on Hollywood to stay in "community," "help the vulnerable" and foster an "inspiring vision of the future" that is "welcoming."