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Fonda, so great in about just seven minutes on screen in the Fox Searchlight December release Youth,  got laughs after accepting a grant to the Sundance Film Institute on behalf of her one time co-star and friend Robert Redford, when she introduced the next presenters Blunt and Del Toro, who appeared to be no-shows — leaving Fonda alone on stage to ad lib a well-pointed zinger at their expense: “Benicio looks unreliable, but Emily Blunt looks like she’d be on time. If she can stand up to Meryl Streep, she can make it to the podium Hollywood Foreign Press Association Hosts Annual Grants Banquet - Insidewhen she is announced,” Fonda said, referring to Blunt’s most recent film with Streep, Into The Woods. Eventually the pair got there but completely stumbled through their presentation, unable to clearly read the prompter.

When Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro missed their cue to take the stage, Jane Fonda got laughs with her ad-lib.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda (John Salangsang/Invision)

“You know Benicio, he does seem a little bit unreliable, doesn’t he?” she said. “You look into his eyes — really interesting, maybe not so reliable. But Emily Blunt, you would think she’d show up on time, right?

“I don’t think they’re off making out somewhere,” Jane continued. “This is really funny! I have no idea where they are.”

When the two stars made it to the stage, Emily confessed that she couldn’t see the teleprompter at the back of the room and repeatedly asked Benicio for his help.

“I’m amazed how blind I am,” she said. “It’s a bit upsetting.”