At a Glance
- Jodie Foster, 12, portrayed Iris in the 1976 film Taxi Driver.
- Foster’s sister Connie doubled for the film’s most suggestive moments after the Board of Education denied a work permit.
- Foster now says the scenes were not as risqué as critics claimed and reflects on abuse and power as a child star.
- Why it matters: The actress offers a new perspective on a classic film and shares how early fame shaped her career.
Jodie Foster recently discussed her experience filming the 1976 classic Taxi Driver on the January 19 episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast. She was 12 when director Martin Scorsese cast her as Iris, a girl being trafficked by her boyfriend. The conversation also touched on her sister’s role, the Board of Education’s concerns, and her own reflections on abuse and power.
The Early Years
Foster’s first major film role came when she was nine in Scorsese’s 1974 movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Two years later, at age 12, she returned to work with the same director in Taxi Driver. The film’s gritty portrayal of a disaffected taxi driver, played by Robert De Niro, would become a touchstone of 1970s cinema.
| Year | Project | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore | Young girl | First collaboration with Scorsese |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Iris | 12-year-old protagonist |
| 2025 | NPR interview | Guest | Discussed abuse and power |
| 2026 | Conan O’Brien podcast | Interviewee | Talked about film and sister |
Behind the Scenes
When Foster was about to film Taxi Driver, the Board of Education refused to sign a work permit because the script included “sexually suggestive scenes.” To prove her competence, her parents hired a lawyer. The deal they reached was that if any such scenes were needed, a stand-in would perform them.
Connie, Foster’s older sister, was over 18 and the same size as Jodie. She traveled to New York for the summer to serve as a body double. Foster said, “They weren’t very suggestive.” She added, “I think it was her taking down her shirt to below her shoulders, right? So that’s nothing.”
O’Brien noted, “You can’t be aware that this is going to become a touchstone film and a real, I would say pivot point for 1970s movies. And it’s going to be so important in so many ways. You can’t know that at the time.” Foster replied, “No. But he was a great director and I had already done Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore with him. He was this extraordinary up-and-coming director.”
Reassessing the Film
Looking back, Foster says the film’s sexual content was overblown. She explains that with a modern lens, the scenes were not as risqué as people worried. “They weren’t very suggestive,” she said again, adding that the only suggested action was a shirt being taken down. O’Brien joked, “Which they do on Nickelodeon now.” Foster laughed and said, “And I think I was supposed to like undo his fly. That was about it.”
Foster also described how having her sister on set felt “nice.” She emphasized that the arrangement was a practical solution to a regulatory obstacle, not a sensational choice.
Personal Reflections
In an interview with NPR earlier this month, Foster reflected on how she escaped abuse as a child star. She said, “I’ve really had to examine that, like, how did I get saved?” She noted that “there were microaggressions, of course. Anybody who’s in the workplace has had misogynist microaggressions. That’s just a part of being a woman, right?”
Foster explained that having “a certain amount of power” at a young age led her to a different path. She said, “By the time I had my first Oscar nomination, I was part of a different category of people that had power and I was too dangerous to touch. I could’ve ruined people’s careers or I could’ve called ‘Uncle,’ so I wasn’t on the block.” Her Oscar nomination for Taxi Driver gave her a platform that helped protect her from the worst of the industry’s abuses.
Current Projects
Foster is currently starring in the film A Private Life. The project showcases her continued presence in the industry and her ability to choose roles that reflect her growth as an artist.
Key Takeaways
- Foster’s role in Taxi Driver was at age 12, and her sister Connie doubled for the film’s limited suggestive scenes.
- The Board of Education’s refusal to sign a work permit led to a legal workaround that kept Foster’s role intact.
- Foster now believes the film’s sexual content was not as explicit as critics claimed.
- She attributes her resilience to the power she gained early, including an Oscar nomination that protected her from abuse.
- Foster remains active in film, most recently with A Private Life.
