On a brisk evening in Los Angeles on April 29, 2025, Jodie Foster, the 62-year-old Hollywood legend, experienced a moment of profound human connection that would soon touch the hearts of millions. While walking back to her car after a late dinner in the city’s Arts District, Foster was approached by a homeless woman named Sarah Thompson, 45, who, in a selfless act of kindness, offered Foster her only blanket to shield her from the chilly night air. What Foster did next—an extraordinary gesture of compassion and generosity—left onlookers in tears and sparked a viral movement, reminding the world of the power of empathy and the shared humanity that binds us all.

Foster, a two-time Oscar winner and recent Golden Globe recipient for her role in True Detective: Night Country, has long been known for her private nature and her commitment to meaningful causes. She’s currently filming Vie Privée, a French murder mystery directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, as reported by Variety in October 2024, and has been spotted around Los Angeles balancing her busy career with her personal life. On this particular evening, Foster had been dining alone at a small, low-key restaurant, a rare moment of solitude for the actress who often shies away from the public eye. Dressed in a simple black coat and scarf, she was making her way to her parked car when she encountered Thompson, a woman who had been living on the streets for nearly two years.

Thompson, a former retail worker who lost her job and housing during the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, was sitting on a piece of cardboard near a street corner, wrapped in a tattered blanket that was her only protection against the cold. Los Angeles, despite its sunny reputation, can be unforgiving at night, with temperatures often dropping into the low 50s in spring. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the city’s homeless population exceeds 75,000 as of 2024, with women making up a growing percentage due to rising housing costs and systemic inequities. Thompson, like many, had fallen through the cracks, struggling to find shelter and relying on the kindness of strangers to survive.

As Foster passed by, Thompson noticed the actress shivering slightly in the evening breeze. Without hesitation, Thompson stood up and offered her blanket to Foster, saying, “You look cold, ma’am. Take this—I’ll be okay.” Foster, visibly moved by the gesture, paused and looked at Thompson, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. “I couldn’t believe someone who had so little would give me her only blanket,” Foster later recounted to a close friend, according to a source speaking to People on April 30, 2025. “It was one of the most selfless things I’ve ever seen.”

What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary. Foster gently declined the blanket, insisting that Thompson keep it, but she didn’t stop there. She knelt down beside Thompson, wrapped her own scarf around the woman’s shoulders, and began talking to her, asking about her story. Onlookers, including a few pedestrians who recognized Foster, watched in awe as the actress sat on the sidewalk, listening intently as Thompson shared her struggles—losing her job, her apartment, and her sense of stability. “She didn’t treat me like I was invisible,” Thompson told The Los Angeles Times on April 30, 2025. “She looked me in the eye and really listened. I felt like a person again.”

Foster’s compassion didn’t end with words. After a few minutes of conversation, she reached into her bag, pulled out her wallet, and handed Thompson $500 in cash, saying, “This is for you to get a warm place to stay tonight and some food. You deserve that.” But Foster’s generosity went even further. She then took out her phone and called a local shelter she had previously supported, the Los Angeles Mission, ensuring that Thompson would have a bed for the next month. Foster also gave Thompson her personal assistant’s contact information, promising to help her find long-term housing and job opportunities. “I’m going to make sure you’re okay,” Foster told her, her voice steady with resolve.

The entire interaction, which lasted about 20 minutes, was captured on video by a bystander who posted it online with the caption, “Jodie Foster just showed us what humanity looks like.” The video quickly went viral, amassing over 15 million views on TikTok and X within 48 hours. The hashtag #JodieFosterCares trended globally, with users sharing their emotional reactions. “I’m crying—this is what kindness looks like,” one X user wrote. Another commented, “A homeless woman gave Jodie Foster her blanket, and Jodie gave her a new start. This is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all year.”

Thompson’s act of giving her only blanket to Foster was a powerful reminder of the generosity that can exist even in the most dire circumstances, but it was Foster’s response that left everyone in tears. After ensuring Thompson was settled for the night, Foster quietly donated $1 million to the Los Angeles Mission, earmarking the funds for a new program to provide long-term housing and job training for homeless women. The donation was initially anonymous, but the shelter later confirmed Foster’s involvement on April 30, 2025, after the viral video brought her actions to light. “Her generosity will change lives,” the shelter’s director, Laura Martinez, told CNN. “This program will help hundreds of women like Sarah get back on their feet.”

Foster’s actions come at a time when homelessness in Los Angeles has reached crisis levels, with women increasingly vulnerable due to economic disparities. A 2024 report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness noted that women make up 34% of the homeless population in the U.S., often facing unique challenges like domestic violence and lack of access to affordable childcare, which exacerbate their housing instability. Foster’s donation and her personal intervention with Thompson highlighted these systemic issues, prompting a wave of support for local shelters. By May 1, 2025, the Los Angeles Mission reported a 25% increase in donations, with many citing Foster’s example as their motivation.

Foster has a history of quiet generosity, often using her wealth and influence to support those in need without seeking recognition. Earlier in April 2025, she made headlines for donating $500,000 to the Los Angeles Housing Support Network to help her sister, Amy, who was struggling to pay rent, as well as other seniors facing housing insecurity. That act, like her encounter with Thompson, was initially anonymous, reflecting Foster’s preference for privacy. She has long been an advocate for keeping personal matters out of the public eye, a stance she reiterated during her 2013 Golden Globes speech when she came out as a lesbian, emphasizing her desire for a life not defined by publicity.

Foster’s encounter with Thompson also shed light on her personal values, shaped by a lifetime of navigating fame while remaining grounded. In a rare 2025 interview with ABC News, she spoke about her sons, Kit and Charlie, and her wife, Alexandra Hedison, describing them as her “everything.” Her actions on that Los Angeles street reflect the same sense of family and community she holds dear, extending that care to a stranger in need. “Jodie has always had a big heart,” a source close to her told People on April 30, 2025. “She doesn’t do these things for attention—she does them because it’s who she is.”

For Thompson, the encounter was transformative. With Foster’s help, she secured a spot in a shelter, received job training through the Los Angeles Mission, and by May 1, 2025, had landed a part-time job at a local grocery store. “I feel like I have a future again,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “Jodie didn’t just give me money—she gave me hope.” Thompson’s story, amplified by Foster’s kindness, inspired others to act, with community groups organizing blanket drives and fundraisers to support the city’s homeless population.

By May 1, 2025, the story of Jodie Foster and Sarah Thompson had become a global symbol of compassion, reminding us all of the power of small acts of kindness. A homeless woman’s selfless offer of her only blanket moved Foster to tears, and Foster’s response—giving far more than was asked, both in material support and in dignity—left the world in tears of gratitude. In a city grappling with a homelessness crisis, Foster’s actions serve as a call to action, urging us to see the humanity in those society often overlooks, and to act with the same empathy that turned a chilly evening into a moment of warmth for millions.