Jodie Foster Reveals How She Avoided Hollywood Abuse: “I Was Too Dangerous to Touch”

In a new interview with NPR, Jodie Foster opened up about how she avoided s***** abuse in Hollywood as a teen. The two-time Oscar winner credits her early career success and the influence she gained at a young age for keeping her safe.

Foster explained that being nominated for an Oscar at just 12 years old for her role in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver gave her power in the industry that other young actors didn’t have. I’ve really had to examine that, like, how did I get saved? There were microaggressions, of course, she said.

Anybody who’s in the workplace has had misogynist microaggressions. That’s just a part of being a woman, right? she continued. But what kept me from having those bad experiences, those terrible experiences?

Foster came to believe that her professional standing acted as a shield. I had a certain amount of power by the time I was, like, 12, she explained. So by the time I had my first Oscar nomination, I was part of a different category of people that had power and I was too dangerous to touch.

She noted that this status made her a risk to those who might otherwise target a child. I could’ve ruined people’s careers or I could’ve called ‘Uncle,’ so I wasn’t on the block, she shared with the outlet.

Foster added that her personality also helped protect her. It also might be just my personality, that I am a head-first person and I approach the world in a head-first way, she said. It’s very difficult to emotionally manipulate me because I don’t operate with my emotions on the surface.

She went on to describe the tactics predators use to maintain control. Predators use whatever they can in order to manipulate and get people to do what they want them to do, Foster explained. That’s much easier when the person is younger, when the person is weaker, when a person has no power.

Although Foster avoided abuse herself, she has been a mentor and role model for other actors facing harassment. Natalie Portman revealed on the Smartless podcast that Foster reached out to her after Portman spoke publicly about being sexualized as a child actor.

I did a speech at a Women’s March about being s***** as a young actress, and she reached out to me after that, and we talked and it was amazing, Portman said. She’s still a role model.

Like Foster, Portman started acting as a child, landing her breakthrough role in Léon: The Professional at age 11. She said projecting seriousness on set helped protect her from potential predators.

That kind of projection of seriousness protected me in a way, Portman recalled. ’Cause I feel like it was almost a warning signal like, ‘Oh, don’t do shit to her.’

Foster’s insight sheds light on how power and awareness can help young actors navigate the challenges of Hollywood. The legendary actress is currently experiencing a major career high following her recent win at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.

She took home the trophy for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her role as Chief Liz Danvers in True Detective: Night Country. Her performance in the HBO anthology series also earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in late 2024.

Fans can see Foster in her latest film, A Private Life. Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, the French-language “psychoanalytic noir” stars Foster as Lilian Steiner, an American psychoanalyst living in Paris who begins investigating the mysterious death of a patient.

The film features an international ensemble cast including Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, and Mathieu Amalric. Foster’s performance in the mystery has already received critical acclaim, with many praising her flawless French and magnetic screen presence.

Beyond her acting roles, Foster was recently honored with the 2025 Radcliffe Medal from Harvard University. She was recognized for her extraordinary impact on the arts and her dedication to exploring complex human experiences through film.

Share your thoughts on Jodie Foster’s reflections and her recent award-winning performances in the comments.