At a Glance
- Jodie Foster says she now truly appreciates her mother, Evelyn, who steered her career.
- Evelyn died in 2019 at 90 from dementia complications.
- Foster reflected on the conversation during her 2023 appearance on Conan O’Brien’s podcast.
- Why it matters: The actress’s new perspective offers insight into how early family support can shape a lifelong career.
Jodie Foster, 63, opened up about her late mother, Evelyn Foster, during a recent interview on Conan O’Brien’s Needs a Friend podcast. The actress, who has been a prominent figure in Hollywood since the late 1960s, revealed that she now feels a deep appreciation for the guidance and protection Evelyn provided throughout her career.
A Podcast Moment
On Monday, Jan. 19, 2023, Foster appeared on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast to promote her new film, A Private Life. The conversation turned personal when Conan asked about Foster’s relationship with her mother.
> “I really appreciate her now,” Foster said. “I was pretty mad at her in my 30s, like all of us, and then suddenly really started seeing the other side of the story.”
Conan, who had previously praised Evelyn for her role in raising and managing Jodie’s career, echoed the sentiment that Evelyn did an extraordinary job.
> “She wanted me to be all the things she couldn’t be,” Foster continued. “She wanted me to be respected. She didn’t want me to be objectified.”
Foster added that her mother’s ambition was rooted in her own lack of opportunities during a pre-feminist era.
> “She wanted me to have a long career, not a short one; she didn’t want me to play somebody’s just sister, mother, daughter,” she said. “She wanted me to be a central character.”
Evelyn’s Legacy
Evelyn Foster managed Jodie’s career from childhood through the early 1990s. She was a steadfast advocate for her daughter’s professional growth and personal dignity.
- Career guidance: She warned Jodie that a child-actor’s career would likely end around 18, preparing her for life after Hollywood.
- Protective stance: She fought against roles that would reduce her daughter to a supporting character.
- Emotional support: Despite the challenges, she remained a pillar of strength and love.
When Jodie was a teenager, she once described her mother’s advice as a reality check:
> “My mother would say, ‘Hey, your career is going to be over when you’re 18, so what are you going to do after that?’ She wasn’t wrong.”
This perspective helped Jodie navigate the transition from child star to adult actress.
From Child Star to Leading Lady
Foster’s early career began in the late 1960s. She gained widespread acclaim with an Academy Award-nominated performance in 1976’s Taxi Driver, opposite Robert De Niro.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1960s | Began acting as a child |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver – Academy Award nomination |
| 1990s | Managed by Evelyn until early 1990s |
| 2019 | Evelyn’s passing |
| 2023 | Podcast interview with Conan O’Brien |
These milestones illustrate the arc of a career shaped by early mentorship and later autonomy.
The 2019 Loss
In May 2019, Jodie and her siblings-Lucinda, Constance, and Bud-announced Evelyn’s death at the age of 90. The cause was complications related to dementia.
The family described Evelyn as “the strongest person her family has ever met, a champion, a fighter, full of fire and love” in an obituary. Her passing marked the end of an era for Jodie, who had long credited her mother for her resilience and ambition.
Reflections at TIFF
During the September 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Foster spoke about her new role in A Private Life, a film set in France. She credited her mother’s influence for helping her portray a complex, independent character.
> “My mom, when she went to France, became someone new,” she told the festival’s press. “She walked the streets, and she’d go to Metros, and she’d go to the flea market. Her life had this whole new-she was a whole new character.”
This anecdote underscores how Evelyn’s life lessons extended beyond Hollywood, inspiring Foster’s artistic choices.
Key Takeaways
- Family support matters: Evelyn’s proactive guidance helped Jodie navigate the pitfalls of a child-acting career.
- Perspective shifts over time: Foster’s newfound appreciation shows how relationships evolve, especially after a loved one’s passing.
- Legacy continues: The values instilled by Evelyn persist in Foster’s current work, both on screen and in her public reflections.
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