Foster, Jodie (1962–)

views updated

Foster, Jodie (1962–)

American actress and director. Born Alicia Christian Foster, Nov 19, 1962, in Los Angeles, California; dau. of Lucius and Brandy Foster; sister of Buddy and Connie Foster (both actors); graduate of College Lycée Français, 1980; graduated magna cum laude from Yale University, 1985; children: Charles Foster (b. 1998), Kit Foster (b. 2001).

Began career at age 2; made tv debut on "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968); came to early prominence in Taxi Driver (1976), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award; won Academy Award for Best Actress for performance as Sarah Tobias in The Accused (1988) and for performance as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991); directed Little Man Tate (1991) and Home for the Holidays (1995); appeared in Tom Sawyer (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Freaky Friday (1976), The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), Sommersby (1993), Maverick (1994), Nell (1994), Contact (1997), Anna and the King (1999) and Panic Room (2002), among others.

See also Louis Chunovic, Jodie: A Biography (1995).

More From encyclopedia.com