Jodie Foster is stepping into uncharted territory with her latest film, A Private Life, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. For the first time, the two-time Oscar winner delivers a leading performance in French, allowing her to reveal a side of herself that is both fragile and unexpectedly vulnerable. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and will be showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows Foster as Dr. Lilian Steiner, an American psychoanalyst navigating a personal crisis after the mysterious death of a patient.
Foster describes her journey in finding the right project, stating, “I just really wanted to make a French movie. And this script is really good for me.” She appreciates how the narrative emphasizes internal struggles and subtlety, contrasting with the more action-driven storytelling prevalent in American cinema. “The goals are internal and kind of small, and yet there’s so much cinema in it,” she explains.
Under Zlotowski’s direction, A Private Life transitions from a romantic comedy to a Hitchcockian mystery, infused with elements of Freudian psychology. Foster notes that in France, directors have the creative freedom to blend genres, which is less common in the United States. “Here [in France], the directors are king, so they can do whatever they want as long as they do it under the budget they’ve been given,” she remarks.
The language barrier has had a profound impact on Foster’s performance. Speaking French for the first time in a leading role, she discovered a new layer to her acting. “I have a different personality because I’m not as confident,” she says. “I have a much softer performance style as a French person.” This softer portrayal enhances her character’s anxiety and feelings of being unheard, creating a marked departure from the tough, composed roles that have defined her career.
In A Private Life, Foster’s character experiences a strained relationship with her son, who uses language as a tool to dominate their interactions. This dynamic adds complexity to her portrayal, as she finds herself flustered in ways she is not accustomed to. “Usually I play unflusterable characters — something different about that,” she reflects.
Her scenes alongside French actor Daniel Auteuil, who plays her ex-husband Gabriel, further explore this vulnerability. “He’s the perfect foil for Lilian Steiner because he’s kind of soft and funny and doesn’t take himself seriously,” Foster says. This chemistry ultimately influences the character’s development, illustrating how casting choices can reshape narratives.
A pivotal moment arrives during a rain-soaked car ride, where Lilian confronts her past by asking her ex-husband a long-avoided question: “So why’d you leave me? The truth this time.” Foster describes this scene as deeply moving, highlighting the growth of both characters after years apart. “For me, that’s the goal of the whole movie,” she asserts.
Despite venturing into new artistic territory, A Private Life resonates with recurring themes in Foster’s work, particularly her focus on women grappling with pressure and striving to be heard. “I think my whole life I’ve compartmentalized — it was a survival mechanism as a child actor,” she explains.
Foster’s resilience has been evident since her early career, marked by her first Cannes appearance in 1976 with Taxi Driver. This moment was overshadowed by personal tragedy, as she lost her dog shortly before traveling to France. “I made up this thing in my mind that I had to lose the thing that I loved the most in order to do some Mephistopheles deal with the devil in order to have the career I wanted,” she recalls.
The challenges of fame became even more pronounced when she was thrust into the spotlight following the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. With her name linked to the incident, she faced intense media scrutiny and personal threats, forcing her to navigate her life under constant security. “For me, it’s life-or-death,” she says. “I have to compartmentalize in order to survive.”
At 61, Foster is enjoying a renaissance in her career. In 2023, she portrayed Bonnie Stoll, the coach of swimmer Diana Nyad in Nyad, earning her first Oscar nomination in nearly three decades. Her recent role in HBO’s True Detective: Night Country further solidified her status, earning her first Emmy award. “I feel freer now,” she comments. “The last few things I’ve done have had so much more humor. I don’t know what I was protecting before.”
For an actress long known for her composure, A Private Life represents a significant departure. It is a journey of self-discovery and exploration of vulnerability, capturing a new facet of Foster’s artistry. “It’s nice,” she concludes, “to feel like such an escape from myself, you know?”
