Why Jodie Foster Hid Her Acting Career From Her 2 Sons

Jodie Foster shared why she didn't tell her sons about her acting career when they were growing up, joking that one of them thought she was a construction worker for the longest time.

By Gabrielle Chung Jan 19, 2024 9:37 PMTags
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Jodie Foster just wanted to foster a normal childhood for her boys.

That's why, when the two-time Oscar winner sons Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster, 25, and Christopher "Kit" Bernard Foster, 22, were growing up, she kept quiet about her job. As she put it, "I guess I just didn't want them to know me that way."

"I wanted them to know me as their mom and the person who went away to work and stuff," Jodie explained during her Jan. 19 appearance on The View. "I just didn't want them to be confused about what I did for a living."

In fact, the Silence of the Lambs alum's oldest spent his toddler years thinking she worked in construction.

"I brought him to set one day and I bought him a little plastic tool belt and stuff," recalled Jodie, who shares her kids with former partner Cydney Bernard. "And I was like, ‘Yeah, and this is this set and this set and this set.' And for a really long time, he thought I was a construction worker." 

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Nowadays, the Panic Room actress' son are well-aware of her decades-long acting career. And though Charlie has followed his mom's footsteps into the entertainment industry, according to Jodie, he and his younger brother "have no interest in watching my movies with me."

"I think they're going to catch True Detective," the 61-year-old said, "'cause they're really into that."

 

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images For BAFTA LA

However, Jodie noted that there are "a few films that I would never show them because I would be worried about being teased."

One example is Nell, the 1995 movie about a young woman who was raised in isolation and struggles to communicate with the outside world. 

"They do tease me often about that," noted Jodie, whose performance in the film landed her a fourth Oscar nomination, "even though they've never seen the movie."

To see other celebs kids who take after their famous parents, keep reading.

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Clint Eastwood & Scott Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's fifth child, son Scott Eastwood, has followed in his movie star footsteps by starring in films like Suicide Squad, Snowden, The Fate of the Furious and Pacific Rim.

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The Bon Jovi singer and his third child is his mini-me. Pictured: The two appear on either sides of with the musician's wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, and their youngest son Romeo Bongiovi at the Jefferson Awards Foundation' 2017 DC National Ceremony at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. in 2017.

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Mini-me indeed! Kate's daughter clearly inherited her momma's gorgeous looks.

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Here posing for an Instagram snap before the Hot Pursuit premiere in Los Angeles, mom and her daughter have never looked more alike!

Lisa Bonet & Zoe Kravitz

The two looked nearly identical at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2015.

Rumer Willis & Demi Moore

With their matching jumpsuits, sleek hair and glasses, the two look more like twins than mother and daughter! "That moment when you realize you actually are becoming your mother #twinning #imnotmad," Willis joked on Instagram.

Madonna & Lourdes Leon

Pictured here in 2010, the pop icon's daughter is a fashionista just like her mama!

David Beckham & Brooklyn Beckham

We'll make another exception for this fierce father-son duo: The soccer stud-turned-model and his son are sure dreamy.

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Jay Z & Blue Ivy Carter

Little Blue stole the show at the 2017 Grammys, and she's totally #twinning with her pops!

Alison Sweeney & Megan Sanov

The Days of Our Lives star and her daughter get in the holiday spirit at Disney On Ice Presents Frozen at the Staples Center. 

Lily-Rose Depp & Vanessa Paradis

The mother-daughter pair looked like virtual twinsies (especially with those matching bobs) at the Chanel fall-winter Haute Couture show in Paris.

Julianne Moore & Liv Freundlich

Like mother, like daughter! The Oscar-winner and her daughter are both redheaded beauties.

Robin Wright & Dylan Penn

The nearly identical stunning stars even dress the same!

Lori Loughlin & Olivia Giannulli

The Fuller House star and her daughter are practically twins at the Summer TCA Press Tour. 

Daniel Day-Lewis & Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis

The Last of the Mohicans and Lincoln star's young adult son, whose mother is French actress Isabelle Adjani, made his big runway debut at 2015 Paris Fashion Week, walking into the Chanel show with Julianne Moore.

Gillian Anderson & Piper Maru Klotz

The two stunned on the red carpet at the Olivier Awards in London.

Kaia Gerber & Cindy Crawford

If you didn't know better, you might've guessed they were sisters!

Tom Hanks & Colin Hanks

This apple certainly doesn't fall far from the tree!

Mamie, Grace and Louisa Gummer & Meryl Streep

Yup, we see Meryl's graceful looks in each of her daughters!

John Legend & Luna Legend

John Legend posted this baby photo of himself, looking exactly like baby Luna on Oct. 6, 2017

Kate Hudson & Goldie Hawn

This bombshell mother-daughter duo never fail to turn heads.

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