Acclaimed actress Jodie Foster has stirred conversation with comments that appeared to draw a pointed comparison to fellow Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, while discussing the long-standing criticism she has faced over her personal life.
A Pointed Comparison in Defence of Privacy
In a candid interview with Variety published on Wednesday, the two-time Academy Award winner reflected on the backlash she received from parts of the LGBTQ+ community for not being more publicly outspoken, especially during the height of the AIDS crisis. The discussion centred on her seminal 2013 Golden Globes speech, widely interpreted as her public coming out while honouring her former partner, Cydney Bernard.
When questioned about the pressure on her to be an activist, Foster "bristled". She responded by saying, "Thank God there were the wonderful pioneers that were out there changing the world. That’s true of the Civil Rights Movement, and yet you have Denzel Washington, who just made movies. Are we mad at him? Does everyone have to?"
The remarks have been interpreted as a subtle yet clear suggestion that not every public figure is obligated to be a trailblazer for social causes, and that icons like Washington are rarely held to the same standard.
A History of Mutual Admiration
Despite the seemingly critical tone, Foster and Washington share a long history of professional respect. Their on-screen partnership dates back to 2006, when they starred opposite each other in Spike Lee’s hit thriller, Inside Man.
Foster has previously expressed her admiration, once stating she had wanted to work with Washington for years. She joked that such pairings are rare because "Hollywood budgets usually only have room for one leading star". She hailed him as "truly the best actor that I’ve ever worked with," praising his spontaneous talent.
Washington reciprocated the sentiment, calling Foster "cool" and "great," and valued their collaboration. Representatives for both actors have not yet responded to requests for comment on the recent interview.
Foster Reflects on Career Crossroads and Influences
The Variety conversation also saw Foster revisit other significant moments in her storied career. She explained her decision not to reprise the role of Clarice Starling in the 2001 sequel Hannibal, citing the director Jonathan Demme's disapproval of the source novel and her own scheduling conflicts.
Reflecting on how the character of Clarice shaped her, Foster described herself as a "good girl, not a rebel" who believes in creating change from within the system. She highlighted the rarity of such a complex, introspective role for a woman, asking, "Why should that only be reserved for men?"
She also credited Robert De Niro with transforming her approach to acting during their early work together, revealing he "took me under his wing" and taught her the depth of character creation. Foster attributed her strong sense of self-respect to her mother's influence, who insisted she would not be objectified.
On her current work, including the series A Private Life, the actress concluded with a note of contentment: "I think I’m doing the best work of my life. And the dirty little secret is that I’ve never worked less in terms of my energy output. I just do what I think, and then I drink a coffee."
