Jodie Foster Says She Was Offered Lead Roles in French Films Before ‘Vie Privée’ but Was ‘Too Scared’: The Dialogue ‘Was a Huge Challenge for Me’

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Jodie Foster shared that she had been presented with prominent roles in French movies prior to her work on “Vie Privée,” yet she found herself too timid to accept these opportunities. Despite being proficient in the language, as she was educated at a French school while growing up in Los Angeles, the Academy Award-winning actress chose not to pursue them.

Before, I played supporting roles in French movies, but I was honestly apprehensive,” Foster admitted at the Cannes press conference for ‘Vie Privée’. “Several directors presented me with projects, but I was too timid to act in French. I thought someone who was more comfortable with the language should take on those roles. However, I can’t quite recall how things fell into place this time.

During her recent press conference, Foster, who primarily spoke French, expressed that leading a French movie had been a dream of hers for quite some time. However, memorizing all the dialogues turned out to be an immense task for her.

When I perform in French, I transform into an entirely distinct individual,” she commented. “My tone becomes more elevated, my confidence wanes significantly, and I become quite irritable due to the difficulty in articulating myself effectively. This transformation, in turn, gives birth to a unique character for me.

On Tuesday evening, the movie directed by Rebecca Zlotowski made its debut at the festival, receiving an impressive eight-minute standing ovation. The film “Vie Privée” features Jodie Foster as a psychotherapist who believes that her patient’s suicide was actually a murder. This is Foster’s first French film since 2004’s “A Very Long Engagement.” Daniel Auteuil and Virginie Edina co-star in the movie, with Auteuil playing Foster’s ex-husband, and Edina portraying a mysterious patient whose death sparks an unconventional investigation by Foster.

When asked about her future acting roles, Foster mentioned a desire to delve deeper into comedy. As she grows older, she wants to take on lighter roles and focus more on stories that revolve around others rather than herself.

Foster expressed: “When I was younger, I wanted to star in films that reflected me. But now, things have shifted dramatically. It’s such a joy to hear fresh voices and encourage others’ acting skills. It’s delightful to play the part of an older woman who says, ‘Don’t fret, there’s nothing serious about it!’

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2025-05-21 15:17