Jodie Foster on Struggles of Women Directing in Hollywood; Shares Advice for Nicolas Cage’s ‘True Detective’ Role
Jodie Foster takes on her first French-language leading role in “A Private Life,” but she already has her sights set on her next dream project: teaming up with Kristin Scott Thomas in a French-language film…whatever that might be.
“I want to play Kristin Scott Thomas’ sister because we’re the two people who speak French fluently,” Foster tells Variety while promoting her latest film at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Me and Kristin, we can do this together. We’ve known each other for a long time, so I’m going to come knocking at her door. She’s a director now, so I’m like, just direct us in a movie where we play sisters.”
Foster added that she would also love to share the screen with other French-speaking actresses like Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp, who previously worked with “A Private Life” director Rebecca Zlotowski on “Planetarium.”
Foster, who has spoken French throughout her career, said starring in “A Private Life” marked her first opportunity to fully immerse herself in a French-language role.
“I had made a few films in French, but I’d never had so much dialogue,” Foster says. “That was probably the first draw to making the project after reading the script and, of course, meeting Rebecca. I’ve always wanted to make a real French movie that wasn’t a bloated American co-production, but one that felt authentically French, with a French team and about the French experience. This was my opportunity.”
The actress, who won two Best Actress Oscars for “The Accused” and “The Silence of the Lambs,” said she spent weeks preparing for the role to ensure she could perform with fluency. “I came about three weeks early because I was concerned I wouldn’t be ready.”
Zlotowski, who also appeared with Foster at TIFF, said she wanted “A Private Life” to balance gravity with humor.
“When you say incredibly serious but also funny — that’s me,” Zlotowski shares. “I come from a Jewish culture that is both melancholic and hilarious. I feel the film is connected to that tradition. It’s about revealing repressed desires, the seen and the unseen. I’m not religious, but culturally, that’s part of my background. For me, cinema is the space where all of that plays out.”
Zlotowski praised Foster’s commitment to authenticity on set. “She has this superpower, like a Marvel superpower for an actress,” the director says. “As French directors, we knew she would speak fluently, but it was still surprising to see. Why isn’t she more like a French actress? We want to kidnap her for a while. I’ve been getting so many emails and calls from people. Everyone wants Jodie in French cinema.”
For Foster, “A Private Life” is also part of a larger conversation about representation behind the camera.
“I grew up in the American film industry and never saw another woman on set, except maybe a script supervisor or makeup artist,” she recalls. “It wasn’t until halfway through my career that women started to come into the picture as technicians, producers, studio heads — and finally directors. My last three films have all been with women directors. It feels like a sisterhood now, and that’s a beautiful thing.”
Zlotowski agreed, adding that her own inspirations include pioneers like Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers. “They disappeared quickly because of the production system, but they remain strong figures to me,” she said. “What’s helped me most is building a community of directors, especially female directors, who support each other.”
Both women hinted at future projects. Zlotowski is preparing a television series with “very young and new faces,” while Foster confirms she’s eager to direct again but continues to seek roles that resonate on a personal level.
“I don’t know how to act unless there’s real personal relevance,” Foster says. “For me, it’s always about connection. Otherwise, I’d rather just live a full life.”
Foster, who starred in Season 4 of HBO’s “True Detective,” for which she won an Emmy, also had some advice for Nicolas Cage, recently cast in the upcoming fifth season of the anthology series. “First and foremost, go have dinner with Issa López and grill her for everything,” Foster says of the creator behind her season. “She’s such an amazing collaborator and a wonderful director. I think they’re going to get along famously. My advice is to embrace the feeling of ‘True Detective,’ but allow it to be your own.”
As for her dream sister act alongside Scott Thomas? “I think it’s a great idea,” Foster laughed. “Somebody just has to make it happen.”
“I want to play Kristin Scott Thomas’ sister because we’re the two people who speak French fluently,” Foster tells Variety while promoting her latest film at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Me and Kristin, we can do this together. We’ve known each other for a long time, so I’m going to come knocking at her door. She’s a director now, so I’m like, just direct us in a movie where we play sisters.”
Foster added that she would also love to share the screen with other French-speaking actresses like Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp, who previously worked with “A Private Life” director Rebecca Zlotowski on “Planetarium.”
Foster, who has spoken French throughout her career, said starring in “A Private Life” marked her first opportunity to fully immerse herself in a French-language role.
“I had made a few films in French, but I’d never had so much dialogue,” Foster says. “That was probably the first draw to making the project after reading the script and, of course, meeting Rebecca. I’ve always wanted to make a real French movie that wasn’t a bloated American co-production, but one that felt authentically French, with a French team and about the French experience. This was my opportunity.”
The actress, who won two Best Actress Oscars for “The Accused” and “The Silence of the Lambs,” said she spent weeks preparing for the role to ensure she could perform with fluency. “I came about three weeks early because I was concerned I wouldn’t be ready.”
Zlotowski, who also appeared with Foster at TIFF, said she wanted “A Private Life” to balance gravity with humor.
“When you say incredibly serious but also funny — that’s me,” Zlotowski shares. “I come from a Jewish culture that is both melancholic and hilarious. I feel the film is connected to that tradition. It’s about revealing repressed desires, the seen and the unseen. I’m not religious, but culturally, that’s part of my background. For me, cinema is the space where all of that plays out.”
Zlotowski praised Foster’s commitment to authenticity on set. “She has this superpower, like a Marvel superpower for an actress,” the director says. “As French directors, we knew she would speak fluently, but it was still surprising to see. Why isn’t she more like a French actress? We want to kidnap her for a while. I’ve been getting so many emails and calls from people. Everyone wants Jodie in French cinema.”
For Foster, “A Private Life” is also part of a larger conversation about representation behind the camera.
“I grew up in the American film industry and never saw another woman on set, except maybe a script supervisor or makeup artist,” she recalls. “It wasn’t until halfway through my career that women started to come into the picture as technicians, producers, studio heads — and finally directors. My last three films have all been with women directors. It feels like a sisterhood now, and that’s a beautiful thing.”
Zlotowski agreed, adding that her own inspirations include pioneers like Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers. “They disappeared quickly because of the production system, but they remain strong figures to me,” she said. “What’s helped me most is building a community of directors, especially female directors, who support each other.”
Both women hinted at future projects. Zlotowski is preparing a television series with “very young and new faces,” while Foster confirms she’s eager to direct again but continues to seek roles that resonate on a personal level.
“I don’t know how to act unless there’s real personal relevance,” Foster says. “For me, it’s always about connection. Otherwise, I’d rather just live a full life.”
Foster, who starred in Season 4 of HBO’s “True Detective,” for which she won an Emmy, also had some advice for Nicolas Cage, recently cast in the upcoming fifth season of the anthology series. “First and foremost, go have dinner with Issa López and grill her for everything,” Foster says of the creator behind her season. “She’s such an amazing collaborator and a wonderful director. I think they’re going to get along famously. My advice is to embrace the feeling of ‘True Detective,’ but allow it to be your own.”
As for her dream sister act alongside Scott Thomas? “I think it’s a great idea,” Foster laughed. “Somebody just has to make it happen.”