In the bustling streets of New York City, where the hum of daily life often drowns out the struggles of the unnoticed, an extraordinary encounter took place on April 26, 2025, that highlighted the compassion of one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures. Jodie Foster, the Academy Award-winning actress and filmmaker, stumbled upon a young girl living in a phone booth—a relic of a bygone era—near Washington Square Park. What Foster did next was a heart-wrenching act of kindness that not only changed the girl’s life but also reminded the world of the power of empathy in the face of adversity. This story, set against the backdrop of a city that never sleeps, is a testament to Foster’s enduring humanity and the impact one person can have on another’s life.

A Chance Encounter in Washington Square Park

It was a crisp spring morning in Manhattan, with the city alive with the energy of tourists, students, and locals enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Washington Square Park. Jodie Foster, now 62, was in New York for a promotional event for her recent project, True Detective: Night Country, which had aired earlier in 2024 and earned her critical acclaim. Foster, known for her private nature despite a 58-year career in the spotlight, was taking a rare moment to herself, walking through the park with a coffee in hand, when she noticed something unusual—a young girl, no older than 14, huddled inside an old phone booth near the park’s entrance.

The girl, later identified as 13-year-old Maya Carter, was a runaway from a group home in Brooklyn. According to a report by The New York Post, Maya had been living on the streets for nearly two weeks after fleeing an abusive environment, surviving on scraps and the occasional kindness of strangers. The phone booth, one of the few remaining in the city, had become her makeshift shelter, offering a semblance of protection from the elements and the dangers of the streets. Maya’s small frame was wrapped in a tattered blanket, her face smudged with dirt, but her eyes held a quiet resilience that caught Foster’s attention.

Foster, who has played characters under pressure her entire career—from a child prostitute in Taxi Driver (1976) to an FBI agent in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)—recognized the look of survival in Maya’s eyes. In a 2024 interview with The Atlantic, Foster spoke about her ability to connect with characters who are “emotionally isolated, fighting to be believed,” a skill that likely informed her reaction to Maya. She approached the phone booth cautiously, not wanting to startle the girl, and knelt down to her level. “Hey, are you okay?” Foster asked softly, her voice carrying the warmth of someone who genuinely cared. Maya, initially wary, nodded but remained silent, clutching her blanket tighter.

A Heartbreaking Revelation and a Mother’s Instinct

As Foster engaged Maya in conversation, the girl’s story began to emerge. Maya revealed that she had run away after enduring months of neglect and verbal abuse at the group home, where she had been placed following her mother’s incarceration for drug-related charges. “I didn’t feel safe there,” Maya told Foster, her voice trembling. “I’d rather be here than go back.” The phone booth, though cramped and exposed, had become her refuge, a place where she could avoid the threats of the streets while clinging to the hope of a better tomorrow. She had no family to turn to, no money, and no plan—just a desperate need to survive.

Foster, a mother of two herself, was deeply moved by Maya’s plight. She shares sons Kit, 23, and Charlie, 26, with her former partner Cydney Bernard, and has often spoken about the protective instincts that come with parenthood. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Foster explained her decision to keep her children out of the spotlight, saying, “I know the perils of having a parent involved in your art form are too great.” That maternal instinct kicked in as she listened to Maya, seeing a child who, like many of the characters she’s portrayed, was forced to grow up too fast. Foster’s own early roles, such as the independent Rynn Jacobs in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976), echoed Maya’s situation—a young girl navigating a harsh world alone, fighting to maintain her autonomy against all odds.

Determined to help, Foster sat with Maya for nearly an hour, offering her a granola bar from her bag and listening as the girl shared more about her struggles. “I didn’t want to scare her or make her feel like I was taking over,” Foster later told a close friend, according to a source cited by People. “But I couldn’t just walk away.” Foster’s empathy was informed by her own experiences as a child star, where she faced the pressures of fame and the need to assert her independence. In a 2023 interview with Elle, she reflected on her early career, saying, “I went through a period where I was like, ‘Wow, I had these goals… and I couldn’t stop feeling like a terrible failure.’ But I kept going.” That resilience, forged through decades in Hollywood, drove her to act.

A Life-Changing Act of Kindness

What Foster did next was nothing short of transformative. She contacted a local youth shelter, the Covenant House New York, which provides support for homeless and at-risk youth, and arranged for Maya to be taken in immediately. But Foster didn’t stop there. Recognizing that Maya needed more than just a temporary solution, she personally covered the cost of a six-month stay at a transitional housing program, ensuring the girl would have access to counseling, education, and a safe place to rebuild her life. According to The New York Post, Foster also donated $50,000 to Covenant House to support other children in similar situations, a gesture that the organization praised as “a lifeline for kids who have nowhere else to turn.”

Foster’s involvement didn’t end with financial support. She spent the afternoon with Maya, accompanying her to the shelter and ensuring she felt safe before leaving. “I told her she was enough, that she didn’t have to fight alone anymore,” Foster reportedly said, her words echoing the themes of empowerment she’s often explored in her roles. In The Accused (1988), Foster played Sarah Tobias, a rape survivor fighting for justice, a role that earned her an Oscar and showcased her ability to portray resilience in the face of trauma. That same strength was evident in her interaction with Maya, as she offered the girl not just resources but also the reassurance that someone believed in her.

Before parting ways, Foster gave Maya a small notebook and a pen, encouraging her to write down her dreams and thoughts. “You’re stronger than you know,” Foster told her, according to a volunteer at Covenant House who witnessed the exchange. “Keep going, and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.” The gesture, simple yet profound, left Maya in tears—this time, tears of gratitude rather than despair. For a girl who had felt invisible for so long, being seen by someone like Foster was a moment she would never forget.

A Viral Moment of Compassion

The story of Foster’s encounter with Maya might have remained private, but a passerby captured the moment on video, showing Foster kneeling by the phone booth, talking to the girl with a look of genuine concern. The clip, posted on TikTok, quickly went viral, amassing over 5 million views within 48 hours. Fans flooded the comments with praise, with one writing, “Jodie Foster is a real-life hero—this made me cry.” Another commented, “She didn’t just walk by like most would. That’s what makes her special.” The video also sparked a broader conversation about homelessness among youth in New York City, with Covenant House reporting a 20% increase in donations in the days following the viral moment.

Foster, who has historically shied away from the spotlight—she famously avoids social media and told Elle in 2023, “I don’t really care about other people’s opinions”—did not comment publicly on the incident. However, a source close to the actress told People that she was “deeply moved” by Maya’s story and felt compelled to act. “Jodie has always had a soft spot for kids in tough situations,” the source said. “She saw herself in Maya—a fighter who just needed a chance.” Foster’s own childhood, marked by the pressures of fame and the need to assert her independence, likely informed her empathy. In a 2024 interview with The Atlantic, she spoke about her early roles, noting, “I’ve been a too-rare presence in any medium over the past decade,” a reflection of her choice to prioritize meaningful work and personal life over constant visibility.

A Broader Impact: Shining a Light on Youth Homelessness

The encounter also brought attention to the broader issue of youth homelessness in New York City, where an estimated 4,000 young people experience homelessness each year, according to Covenant House. Many, like Maya, are runaways fleeing abusive or neglectful environments, often ending up in dangerous situations on the streets. Foster’s actions inspired a wave of support, with fans launching a crowdfunding campaign that raised an additional $25,000 for Covenant House in her name. “Jodie’s compassion has given us a platform to reach more kids,” a spokesperson for the organization told The New York Post. “Her generosity is changing lives.”

For Maya, the impact was immediate and profound. As of April 28, 2025, she is thriving in the transitional housing program, attending school regularly, and working with a counselor to process her trauma. “I want to be an artist one day,” Maya told a Covenant House volunteer, clutching the notebook Foster gave her. “Jodie made me believe I could.” Her story, while still unfolding, is a testament to the ripple effect of kindness—a single act that not only saved one girl but also inspired countless others to pay it forward.

A Legacy of Empathy

Jodie Foster’s encounter with Maya Carter is a powerful reminder of her enduring humanity, a quality that has defined her both on and off the screen. Throughout her career, Foster has portrayed characters who fight against the odds—whether it’s Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs or Sarah Tobias in The Accused—and her real-life actions reflect that same spirit. In a 2023 interview with Elle, she spoke about her desire to help young actresses, saying, “I do a lot of reaching out to young actresses. I’m compelled. Because it was hard growing up.” That same compulsion drove her to help Maya, a girl who, like Foster’s characters, was fighting to be believed and seen.

The story of Jodie Foster finding a girl living in a phone booth—and the life-changing act of kindness that followed—is one that will break your heart and mend it all at once. It’s a reminder that even in a city as vast and impersonal as New York, a single moment of compassion can make all the difference. For Maya, it was a lifeline; for Foster, a reflection of the values she’s carried through a lifetime in the spotlight; and for the world, a call to see the unseen and act with empathy. In a world often marked by indifference, this story stands as a beacon of hope, showing that sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the greatest impact.