Jodie Foster has spoken out about the prevalence of sexual assault in female characters’ backstories, saying that she was continually shocked by the over-reliance on the subject by male screenwriters. The actress pointed out that “rape or molestation seemed to be the one kind of lurid, big emotional backstory that they could understand in women.” Despite this, however, Foster acknowledged that the gender balance was improving and expressed her own sense of contentment as she grows older. Foster has herself played several rape survivors in her career, most notably in The Accused, which won her an Oscar.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Foster talked about her career and how it has evolved over time. She stated that she was never happier than after turning 60 and that she enjoyed the freedom of not always being the center of attention on set. Foster noted that as more women came onto movie sets, it was fantastic to see the number grow, but there were still no female directors. She also debunked any misconception of women ‘clashing’ on set, saying that it always felt nice to gather with them because “the women really feel like they want each other to succeed.”
In other news, Foster revealed that she shared her concerns with Robert Downey Jr. when directing him in the 1995 Thanksgiving comedy Home For The Holidays. Downey Jr. was struggling with addiction and crime at the time, having been arrested in 1994 for possession of heroin, cocaine, and a gun. Foster said that she “took him to one side” and spoke candidly with him, expressing her gratitude for his work on the film while acknowledging her fear for him: “Right now you are incredibly good at balancing on the barstool. But it’s really precarious, and I’m not sure how that’s going to end.
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