Jodie Foster: An Award-Winning Actress

Jodie Foster who was born Alicia Christian Foster in 1962 is one of the more compelling actresses and had a very early start in acting with some very pivotal roles. There are several films she has done that are worth checking out and here are a few of my favorites.

Taxi Driver - She played a pre-teen prostitute in this, her first major film role, in 1976. As her character Iris, who is only 12 years old, is trying to get away from her pimp, she ends up in the cab of the infamous Travis Bickle (played by Robert DeNiro). He makes several attempts to "save" this child from a life that she seems to prefer over boyfriends and normality. It is not the main story line of this film, but seeing her flex her acting chops at such a young age is mesmerizing to watch.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane - Another 1976 film Foster stars in alongside Martin Sheen, but she has all the screen time compared to anyone else. You may have caught this one on television over the years. Here she plays a 13 year old girl who is celebrating her birthday alone on Halloween when the landlady's adult son, played by Sheen, shows up. He becomes obsessed and continues to basically stalk her throughout the film. A mysterious story line to start, you will have more answers as the movie progresses. Foster handles her starring role with all the gusto of any adult, especially since she had a hand in the fact that all the adults in the movie have met an untimely end.

Carny - Now here is a film that a lot of people never heard of and the intensity of this flick is probably what has kept it off the tube ever since. Foster plays a waitress, a very young waitress, who joins a travelling carnival. She is sort of caught in a triangle of creepiness and sex with the ever intense Gary Busey and Robbie Robertson. This is a very dark and edgy drama and she proves she can stand her own ground.

The Accused - This 1988 film is probably one of the harder films to watch, but once you see Foster's performance, you'll understand why she won several awards for her portrayal of a woman who was raped in a bar by several men as many more watch and cheered. Her relationship with the attorney (played nicely by Kelly McGillis) who is prosecuting the rapists and then some is intense from the start but grows into almost a mother/daughter relationship. Foster's acting is this gritty film is outstanding.