Jodie Foster has described acting as a 'cruel job' that she never would have chosen for herself, speaking out against parents who encourage their children to pursue the profession. The actor, who began her career at age three with a commercial for Coppertone sunscreen, said at the Marrakesh film festival that she 'would never have chosen to be an actor' and that it was 'chosen for me as a young person that I don't remember starting.'
Foster, now 62, reflected on her childhood in the industry, which included roles in films such as Tom Sawyer (1973) and Taxi Driver (1976), where she played a child prostitute at age 12. She expressed concern for young actors today, saying she wants to 'take care of them because I know how dangerous it is.' She questioned why anyone would want to act now, given the sacrifices required, and emphasised the importance of maintaining a firm separation between private and public life, as her mother helped her do.
Despite her current views, Foster acknowledged that her scepticism may have enhanced her acting. 'It makes my work a little bit different, because I am not interested in acting just for the sake of acting,' she said. She also addressed working with female directors on four consecutive films, noting that until 15 years ago, mainstream movie director lists rarely included women. She argued for giving women experience on big-budget films rather than denying them opportunities.
Foster's latest film is the French-language comedy thriller A Private Life, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. She said making the film felt natural as she attended a French school from age three, allowing her to use a part of her personality she rarely gets to express.
