Jodie Foster takes on her first French-led role in “Private Life,” but she has already set the sights of her next dream project, her.
“We’re two people who speak French in a fluent way, so I want to play Christine Scott Thomas’ sister,” Foster tells Variety, promoting her latest film at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Me and Christine, we can do this together. We’ve known each other for a long time, so I’m going to knock on her door. She’s the director now.
Foster added that she would like to share screens with French-speaking actresses, including Natalie Portman and Lily Rose Depp, director of “Private Life” at “Planetarium.”
Foster, who spoke French throughout her career, said she has appeared in “Private Life,” marking her first opportunity to be fully immersed in the French role.
“I made some films in French, but I never had that many dialogue,” says Foster. “It was probably the first draw to make a project after reading the script and, of course, after meeting Rebecca. I’ve always wanted to make a real film that felt authentic French about the French team and the French experience, rather than American co-production. This was my opportunity.”
The two best actresses Oscar-winning actresses for “The Defendant” and “The Silence of the Lamb” said she spent weeks preparing for the role so that she could perform with urgency. “I came about three weeks early because I was worried I wasn’t ready.”
Zlotowski, who appeared in Tiff alongside Foster, said he wanted a “personal life” to balance gravity and humor.
“When you say you’re incredibly serious but funny, that’s me,” Zlotowski shares. “I come from a melancholic, cheerful Jewish culture. I feel that film is connected to that tradition: revealing oppressed desires, what is seen and invisible. I’m not religious, but culturally that’s part of my background.
Zlotowski praised Foster’s commitment to reliability in the set. “She has this superpower, like the actress Marvel superpower,” the director says. “As the French director, we knew she would speak in the way of speaking, but it was still amazing to see. Why isn’t she like a French actress? We want to invite her for a while. I’ve received lots of emails and calls from people.
For Foster, “personal life” is also part of a larger conversation about the representation behind the camera.
“I grew up in the American film industry, but I never saw another woman on set except for the script director and the make-up artist,” she recalls. “Until halfway through my career, women began appearing in photography as engineers, producers, studio heads and finally as directors. All three of the last films were with female directors. Now it feels like sisters. That’s beautiful.”
Zlotowski agreed, adding that her own inspiration includes pioneers like Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers. “They quickly disappeared due to the production system, but they remain strong numbers for me,” she said. “What helped me most is building a community of directors who support each other, especially female directors.”
Both women hinted at future projects. Zlotowski prepares the TV series with “very young and new face,” but Foster confirms that she is eager to direct again, but continues to seek out a role that resonates on an individual level.
“Unless there’s a real personal connection, I don’t know how to act,” Foster says. “For me, it’s always about connections. Otherwise, I just want to live my life.”
Foster, who starred in season 4 of HBO’s “True Detective,” won an Emmy Award. “First and more, have dinner with Issa Lopez and grill her for everything,” Foster says of the creator behind her season. “She’s such a great collaborator and a great director. I think they’ll become famous. My advice is to embrace the sense of “true detective” but allow it to be yourself. ”
Will her dream sister act with Scott Thomas? “I think that’s a great idea,” Foster laughed. “Someone has to make it happen.”
