Jodie Foster Admits She Found Robert De Niro “Really Uninteresting” on ‘Taxi Driver’ Set

by

Jodie Foster recently shared a surprising story about meeting Robert De Niro for the first time while filming Taxi Driver. At the Marrakech Film Festival, where she was being honored, Foster admitted she initially found De Niro to be quite unremarkable.

When she was twelve, actress Foster described working with Robert De Niro, explaining that he was very immersed in his acting process, known as Method acting, which made him seem a bit detached. She recalled rehearsing lines repeatedly and noted, “He’s one of America’s best actors, and I was proud to work with him—though he wasn’t always the most engaging person to be around.”

Back then, he was really playing a role, very much how he acted during that period. He wasn’t very engaging, and I remember dreading our lunches together, constantly wondering when I could leave. He didn’t really converse with me, so I ended up talking to the servers and other people at the restaurant instead.

Everything shifted when Robert De Niro included Jodie Foster in how he prepared for roles. “After our third lunch together, he finally showed me his improvisation techniques, and it completely changed my understanding of acting,” she explained.

I remember being about twelve years old and suddenly realizing I wasn’t really contributing to the work. I’d just been focused on saying my lines and reacting, trying to seem natural, but I understood then that truly creating a character was something much more involved. It was a really exciting moment, and I immediately shared that realization with my mom.

Jodie Foster shared a story about attending the Cannes Film Festival with Taxi Driver. The studio didn’t want to pay for her trip, but her mother insisted she go, pointing out that Foster spoke French and it was an important event. They ended up covering the travel costs themselves. Foster remembered that Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Martin Scorsese were anxious about the film’s violence and the possibility of an X rating, so she ended up doing all the French interviews for the group.

Looking back on her career, Jodie Foster confessed that becoming an actress wasn’t something she ever actively chose. She explained, ‘I wouldn’t have picked acting as a profession; I just don’t have that kind of personality. I’m not the type to perform and seek attention.’ She added that acting was a path forced upon her at a young age, one she doesn’t even remember starting, which gives her work a unique perspective because she isn’t motivated by the act of performing itself.

Having started her own career at a young age, Foster now makes a point of watching out for child actors. She often wonders where their parents are and why no one is protecting them from the pressures of the industry. “I want to look after them,” she explained, “because I understand how risky this can be – things like doing too many films or struggling with public appearances.”

Although Jodie Foster didn’t become an actress, she was always attracted to powerful characters and leading roles. She playfully explained, “I didn’t want to play supporting roles like a sister, wife, or girlfriend – I wanted to be the main focus of the story.” She also shared that she aimed to create films with meaning, influenced by the feminist movement of her generation.

Read More

2025-12-01 11:45