Jodie Foster, the two-time Oscar-winning actress and filmmaker, has always been a private figure despite her decades-long career in the spotlight. Known for iconic roles in films like The Silence of the Lambs and her recent critically acclaimed performance in True Detective: Night Country, Foster has carefully guarded her personal life, especially when it comes to her family. However, in a rare moment of openness, the 62-year-old star recently shared a heartwarming detail about her family dynamics: her close relationship with her son Charlie’s girlfriend. “I really like my son Charlie’s girlfriend,” Foster revealed in an interview in June 2025. “We often meet and have dinner.” This glimpse into her family life offers a touching perspective on Foster as a mother, her bond with her children, and her ability to embrace the new people in their lives with warmth and openness.

A Mother First: Jodie Foster’s Journey with Charlie and Kit

Jodie Foster has always prioritized her role as a mother above her Hollywood stardom. She shares two sons, Charles “Charlie” Bernard Foster, 26, and Christopher “Kit” Bernard Foster, 23, with her former partner, Cydney Bernard, a film producer she met on the set of Sommersby in 1993. Foster and Bernard were together for nearly 15 years before parting ways in 2008, but they have maintained a respectful co-parenting relationship, often praised by Foster as a cornerstone of her family’s strength. In 2014, Foster married photographer and filmmaker Alexandra Hedison, who has also become an integral part of the family, supporting Foster and her sons through their various milestones.

Foster’s dedication to her children has been a constant theme throughout her career. In a 2018 interview with Net-a-Porter, she shared how she initially shielded her sons from her celebrity status, wanting them to see her primarily as their mom. “I didn’t want them to know about my celebrity at all,” she said, recalling a humorous moment when a young Charlie, after visiting a film set, thought she was a construction worker because of the tool belts and sets she showed him. This protective instinct stems from Foster’s own experiences as a child actor, starting her career at age three in a Coppertone advertisement and later navigating the pressures of fame as a teen in films like Taxi Driver, for which she earned an Oscar nomination at 14.

Charlie, born on July 20, 1998, has followed in his mother’s footsteps, pursuing a career in acting. After graduating from Yale University—Foster’s alma mater—Charlie participated in several theater productions, including playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a local Rocky Horror Picture Show performance in 2019 and 2021, according to the Yale College Arts website. He also took on a role as an understudy in Bess Wohl’s Camp Siegfried at Second Stage Theatre in 2022. Foster has often spoken proudly of Charlie’s talents, describing him as “super-charming” and “super-spontaneous” in interviews. At the 2025 Golden Globes, where she won Best Female Actor in a Limited Series for True Detective: Night Country, Foster gave an emotional shoutout to her sons, saying, “Kit, my scientist son, and Charlie, my actor son who’s starting his career, hopefully you understand the joy, such joy, that comes from doing really hard, meaningful, good work.”

Welcoming a New Member to the Family

While Foster has been open about her pride in Charlie’s budding career, her recent comments about his girlfriend offer a rare glimpse into her personal life. In June 2025, during a casual conversation with a journalist at a promotional event for her latest project, Foster shared her affection for Charlie’s girlfriend, whose identity she chose to keep private—a decision consistent with her long-standing commitment to shielding her family from public scrutiny. “I really like my son Charlie’s girlfriend,” Foster said with a warm smile. “We often meet and have dinner. It’s been wonderful getting to know her.”

This revelation highlights Foster’s ability to adapt to the evolving dynamics of her family as her sons grow into adulthood. Charlie, now 26, is at an age where relationships become a significant part of life, and Foster’s enthusiasm for his girlfriend suggests a welcoming and supportive approach to this new chapter. While details about Charlie’s girlfriend remain scarce—Foster has not shared her name or background—the fact that they frequently meet for dinner indicates a level of closeness and acceptance that speaks volumes about Foster’s values as a mother. It’s a small but meaningful detail, reflecting her desire to foster a sense of family unity, even as her sons build their own lives.

Foster’s comments also align with her broader perspective on parenting, which she has described as both her greatest challenge and her greatest joy. In a 2018 interview with Us Weekly, she admitted that “letting go” has been one of the hardest aspects of motherhood, particularly the constant worry that comes with raising children. “There’s a switch that gets turned on that never gets turned off,” she said, reflecting on her role as a parent. Yet, her willingness to embrace Charlie’s girlfriend shows a balance between holding on and letting go, allowing her son the space to grow while remaining a steady presence in his life.

A Family Built on Love and Support

The dinners with Charlie and his girlfriend are likely a continuation of the close-knit family dynamic Foster has cultivated over the years. Raised by a single mother herself—Evelyn “Brandy” Foster, who managed Jodie’s career while raising her and her siblings in Los Angeles—Foster understands the importance of creating a stable, loving environment for her children. Her own upbringing, marked by financial struggles and the absence of her father, Lucius Fisher Foster III, shaped her determination to provide her sons with the “normal” life she craved as a child. “I have a psychological need to create a really safe, normal life for them,” she told Psychologies Magazine in 2016, noting that her childhood lacked the routine and stability she now prioritizes for her family.

Foster’s relationship with her sons has evolved as they’ve grown into their 20s, a transition she has described as both rewarding and emotional. In a September 2024 interview with People, she shared that Charlie and Kit are “at that age where they’re starting their careers and they’re pretty insecure about what’s gonna happen.” Yet, she finds joy in their small victories, like getting a job or an audition, which fill her heart “14 times” because they remind her of her own career built on meaningful work. Her recent comments about Charlie’s girlfriend suggest that these family dinners are not just meals but opportunities to connect, share in each other’s lives, and celebrate the milestones that come with adulthood.

Foster’s wife, Alexandra Hedison, likely plays a role in these gatherings as well. The couple, who married in 2014 after dating for a year, has maintained a low-profile relationship, rarely making public appearances together except at significant events like the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where Hedison accompanied Foster to accept the Honorary Palme d’Or. Hedison, a photographer and former actor known for her role in The L Word, has been a supportive partner to Foster, often celebrating her achievements from the sidelines. At the 2025 Golden Globes, Foster dedicated her win to Hedison, calling her “the love of my life.” It’s easy to imagine Hedison joining Foster, Charlie, and his girlfriend for these dinners, adding her own warmth to the family dynamic.

Foster’s Perspective on Relationships and Growth

Foster’s approval of Charlie’s girlfriend also reflects her broader views on relationships and personal growth. Throughout her life, Foster has navigated complex relationships with grace and resilience, from her 15-year partnership with Cydney Bernard to her marriage with Hedison. In her 2013 Golden Globes speech, where she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award, Foster spoke candidly about her journey, thanking Bernard as her “heroic co-parent” and “righteous soul sister in life.” She also acknowledged the challenges of being a public figure while maintaining a private life, a balance she has continued to strike as her sons grow older.

Charlie’s relationship with his girlfriend seems to be a source of joy for Foster, who has often spoken about the importance of love and meaningful work in her life. At the 2025 Golden Globes, she emphasized the joy that comes from “doing really hard, meaningful, good work,” a lesson she hopes her sons will carry into their own lives. Her acceptance of Charlie’s girlfriend suggests that she sees this relationship as part of his journey toward happiness and fulfillment, a milestone she supports wholeheartedly.

Moreover, Foster’s own experiences as a mother raised by women—her mother and her mother’s partner—have shaped her perspective on family and gender roles. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, she noted that her sons, raised in a female-heavy household, are “super feminist” and more interested in movies and their female friends than traditional masculine pursuits like sports. This progressive outlook likely influences how she approaches Charlie’s relationship, fostering an environment where his girlfriend feels welcomed and valued as part of the family.

A Career That Continues to Inspire

Foster’s comments about Charlie’s girlfriend come at a time when she is experiencing a career resurgence, thanks to her role in True Detective: Night Country. The fourth season of HBO’s anthology series, set in the icy expanse of Alaska, features Foster as Detective Liz Danvers, a role that earned her critical acclaim and several awards, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy in 2024. The series, which explores the mysterious disappearance of eight men at a research station, showcases Foster’s ability to portray complex, driven characters—a skill she has honed over her five-decade career.

Despite her professional success, Foster remains grounded in her role as a mother. Her recent comments about Charlie’s girlfriend are a reminder that, for all her accolades, her family remains her greatest source of pride and joy. Whether she’s on a red carpet or at a family dinner, Foster’s commitment to her loved ones shines through, offering a rare glimpse into the woman behind the Hollywood icon.

Conclusion

Jodie Foster’s revelation about her close relationship with Charlie’s girlfriend is a heartwarming testament to her role as a supportive and loving mother. As of June 2025, with Charlie embarking on his acting career and building his own life, Foster’s willingness to embrace his girlfriend reflects the same warmth and openness that has defined her family life. These family dinners, shared with Charlie, his girlfriend, and likely Alexandra Hedison, are more than just meals—they’re a celebration of love, connection, and the joy of watching her children grow into their own. For a woman who has spent much of her life in the public eye, Foster’s ability to maintain a private, meaningful family life is perhaps her greatest achievement of all.