The Untold Story Behind Jodie Foster’s Sister Standing in for Explicit Scenes in Taxi Driver

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Jodie Foster recently shared how her family helped her handle a challenging role early in her career. On the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, the Oscar-winning actress discussed filming the 1976 film Taxi Driver when she was just 12 years old.

She explained that her sister, Connie, stood in for her during the film’s more adult scenes. Their mother came up with this idea because the Board of Education was becoming stricter about protecting young actors in potentially inappropriate roles.

Foster said officials were concerned that having children play mature parts could confuse them about their identities. To get the necessary work permits, the filmmakers agreed to use an adult stand-in for any scenes that could be considered suggestive.

When the Martin Scorsese film needed a body double, Connie Foster, who was 20 and similar in size to her sister, was the obvious choice. Jodie recalled that even though the character, Iris, was involved in adult situations, the actual filming—like unzipping a jacket or showing her shoulders—didn’t feel particularly revealing.

Connie described the experience as more fun than scandalous, comparing it to a playful dress-up session, especially because the vintage costumes made it feel like Halloween. Coming from a family deeply involved in the entertainment world, having siblings working together on set was just a normal family occurrence.

Connie appreciated having her sister nearby, particularly since their brother had also been a child actor. This family support helped her feel grounded while filming a challenging movie that would become a defining moment in her early career.

Jodie Foster continues to be a major presence in the film industry, but she’s now choosing her roles more carefully. She’s currently receiving critical acclaim for her leading role in the French black comedy mystery A Private Life, which was released in North America in January.

The film centers around Lilian Steiner, an American psychiatrist in Paris who becomes consumed by the mysterious death of a patient. This role is a milestone for Foster, as it’s her first significant film performed entirely in French – a skill she honed during her time at a French immersion school.

The film, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and also starring Daniel Auteuil and Mathieu Amalric, has already earned Foster several award nominations for her energetic performance. Looking ahead, Foster is eager to focus more on producing and directing international films, and plans to work primarily behind the camera.

Jodie Foster recently starred in the popular fourth season of True Detective, gaining her many new fans. She’s currently working on interesting projects in Europe, and people are excited about the possibility of her directing films in the future.

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2026-02-18 21:14