American actress Jodie Foster, a longtime Francophile, steps into her first-ever leading role in an all-French film. Vie Privée, a psychological drama directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, premieres out of competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
A celebrated actress, a new challenge
At 62, Jodie Foster is making a long-held dream come true: starring in a French-language film. Best known for her roles in Taxi Driver and The Silence of the Lambs, Foster speaks fluent French—a skill she picked up as a teen at the French lycée in Los Angeles. Until now, though, she had only taken on minor roles in French, including in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s A Very Long Engagement in 2004.
Despite her fluency, Foster admits she hesitated for years before accepting a major French-speaking role. “I was scared,” she says, adding that she needed “someone behind the camera who would support [her].” That someone turned out to be Rebecca Zlotowski. In Vie Privée, Foster plays a psychiatrist unraveling after the sudden death of a patient. The film, deeply rooted in the auteur tradition, features an all-star French cast: Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, and Vincent Lacoste.
Two cinemas, two worlds
For Foster, filming in France offers a stark contrast to the Hollywood model. “You have very small crews,” she notes, highlighting the intimacy of French sets—even compared to indie productions in the U.S. She also points out a key difference in creative power: in France, the director leads, whereas American films are often steered by producers.
Foster was searching for a real French film, not a flashy co-production with a big budget and designer gowns. She found exactly that with Zlotowski, whom she now compares to David Fincher, her director on Panic Room. “Everything is already thought out before the shoot. It’s her full vision—for better or worse,” Foster says with admiration. Zlotowski is known for her work with actors like Tahar Rahim, Léa Seydoux, and Virginie Efira, who returns for Vie Privée.
Known for her low-key political stance, Foster sidesteps the festival’s hot-button topics. She avoids weighing in on Robert De Niro’s anti-Trump remarks during the opening ceremony. When asked about Mel Gibson—now an outspoken Trump supporter—she responds coolly: “Trump using artists for his benefit? That’s nothing new.” Once again, Jodie Foster stays true to her path—balancing artistic integrity with quiet sophistication.