Los Angeles, California, May 27, 2025 – Jodie Foster, the two-time Oscar-winning actress and director, has spent much of her 62 years guarding her privacy while delivering transformative performances on screen. But a recent, unexpected decision to follow her longtime maid after work led Foster to a discovery that has profoundly changed her life. What began as a moment of curiosity unfolded into a journey of connection, compassion, and purpose, revealing a side of Foster that even her closest friends didn’t anticipate. As she promotes her latest French-language film A Private Life (Vie Privée), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week, Foster’s personal revelation has sparked a new chapter in her already remarkable story—one that has left fans and advocates inspired.
A Private Life Under the Spotlight
Jodie Foster’s career began at the age of three, when she appeared in a Coppertone commercial, setting the stage for a six-decade journey in Hollywood. From her Oscar-nominated role in Taxi Driver (1976) at age 14 to her wins for The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Foster has always been a force of nature on screen, often playing solitary women under pressure. Off screen, however, she has fiercely protected her personal life, a choice rooted in her early experiences as a child star. Raised in Los Angeles by her mother, Brandy, who managed her career, Foster became the primary breadwinner for her family by first grade, supporting her three older siblings while navigating the complexities of fame.
Her commitment to privacy intensified after traumatic events, such as the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr., who claimed to be obsessed with Foster after seeing her in Taxi Driver. The incident, coupled with years of media scrutiny about her sexuality—she publicly acknowledged being a lesbian at the 2013 Golden Globes—and her family life, led Foster to maintain a low profile. “I’ve never been okay with being a public figure,” she told CBS News in January 2024. “It’s not something that’s ever felt okay to me, or felt healthy.” Married to photographer Alexandra Hedison since 2014, and a mother to two sons, Kit and Charlie, Foster has often described herself as an introvert in an extrovert’s job, choosing roles that resonate with her values over those that chase fame.
It was this same instinct for authenticity that led Foster to a life-changing moment earlier this month. On May 15, after wrapping up a day of interviews for A Private Life—a film where she plays a Parisian psychiatrist investigating a patient’s death—she returned to her Los Angeles home, a luxurious yet understated Beverly Hills property she has owned since 2012. Her maid, Maria Alvarez, a 55-year-old immigrant from El Salvador who has worked for Foster for over a decade, was finishing her shift. Foster, who has always valued her staff but maintained a professional distance, noticed Maria seemed unusually hurried as she left for the day. “I don’t know what came over me,” Foster later shared in an interview with The Atlantic. “I just had this feeling I needed to know where she was going.”
A Journey of Curiosity
Foster, dressed in a loose striped T-shirt and jeans—a casual look she often favors in private—followed Maria at a discreet distance. Maria drove to a community center in East Los Angeles, a neighborhood far removed from the polished streets of Beverly Hills. Inside, Foster discovered a bustling scene: dozens of immigrant women and children gathered for a weekly support group, where Maria was leading a literacy class. The room was filled with books, notebooks, and the sound of halting English as the women practiced reading aloud. Foster, who has been fluent in French since her childhood at the Lycée Français de Los Angeles, was struck by the determination on their faces.
“I stood at the back, trying not to draw attention, but Maria saw me,” Foster recalled. “She looked so surprised, but she waved me over and introduced me to everyone.” The women, many of whom recognized Foster from her films, were initially starstruck, but Maria quickly put them at ease, explaining that Foster was “a friend.” Over the next hour, Foster listened as the women shared their stories—tales of fleeing violence, working multiple jobs to support their families, and dreaming of a better future for their children. Maria, it turned out, had been volunteering at the center for years, using her own limited resources to buy books and supplies, teaching English to help other immigrants navigate life in the US.
Foster was deeply moved by Maria’s selflessness. “I’ve always been interested in privacy, but I’m obsessed with being understood,” she told The Atlantic in April 2024, reflecting on her lifelong struggle to connect authentically with others. That evening at the community center, Foster felt a connection she hadn’t anticipated. “Maria had been in my home for years, but I didn’t really know her,” she said. “Seeing her there, giving so much of herself—it changed how I saw everything.”
A Life-Changing Commitment
The discovery inspired Foster to take action in a way that aligned with her values. Known for her philanthropy—she supports causes related to education, LGBTQ+ rights, and mental health—Foster saw an opportunity to make a tangible difference. She met with Maria the next day, asking how she could help. Maria explained that the community center was struggling financially, at risk of closing due to lack of funding. Many of the women relied on the center not just for literacy classes but for childcare, legal aid, and emotional support.
Foster, whose net worth is estimated at $100 million, immediately pledged $500,000 to keep the center running, covering rent, staff salaries, and expanded programs for the next five years. But her involvement didn’t stop there. Drawing on her experience as a producer—she founded Egg Pictures in 1990 and produced films like The Baby Dance (1998)—Foster organized a fundraising event at the center, inviting friends like Annette Bening, with whom she co-starred in Nyad (2023), and Kate Winslet, her co-star in Carnage (2011). The event, held on May 20, raised an additional $250,000, with Foster matching donations dollar for dollar.
More significantly, Foster committed to a hands-on role, volunteering to teach weekly acting and storytelling workshops at the center. “I’ve spent my life telling stories,” she said at the event, her voice steady but emotional. “I want these women and their children to know their stories matter, too.” The workshops, which began last week, have already had an impact, with participants using drama to express their experiences and build confidence. “Jodie is so patient,” Maria shared. “She listens to everyone, makes them feel seen. It’s like she’s one of us.”
A New Perspective on Life
For Foster, the experience has been transformative. “I’ve been doing a lot of ‘working on’ things,” she told The Rake in February 2024, reflecting on her evolving sense of self at 61. Discovering Maria’s work pushed her to rethink her own priorities, particularly as an empty nester now that her sons, Kit and Charlie, are grown. “I had my time,” she told CBS News in January 2024. “It’s my time to support other people.” This new chapter in Los Angeles, far from the red carpets of Cannes, has given her a renewed sense of purpose.
The impact of Foster’s actions has rippled beyond the community center. On social media platforms like X, fans have praised her generosity, with the hashtag #JodieInspires trending for days. “Jodie Foster using her platform to help immigrant women—this is why she’s a legend,” one user wrote. Another commented, “She’s always been private, but this shows how much she cares. I’m in tears.” The story has also sparked broader conversations about the challenges faced by immigrant communities, with local organizations reporting a surge in donations inspired by Foster’s involvement.
Foster’s recent reflections on aging and relevance, shared during the promotion of A Private Life, add depth to her actions. “Sixty was the best shift of all,” she told Interview Magazine in November 2023, describing how she felt liberated after a difficult decade in her 50s. “At a certain age, it’s someone else’s time. You might as well do more of the things you love, less of the things you hate, and stop beating yourself up for something you can’t control—that you’ve gotten older.” Following Maria that day, Foster found a way to channel her love for storytelling into something meaningful, proving that age has only amplified her capacity for impact.
A Legacy of Connection
As Foster prepares for the theatrical release of A Private Life later this year, her life off screen is taking on a new dimension. Her work at the community center has deepened her relationship with Maria, who now calls Foster “mi hermana” (my sister). “I think I have managed to survive, and survive intact, and that was no small feat,” Foster told CBS News in January 2024. “So, look at me! I survived!” This latest chapter shows that survival is just the beginning—Foster is thriving, using her platform to lift others up in a way that feels deeply personal.
For the women and children at the East Los Angeles community center, Foster’s involvement has been a lifeline, ensuring they have the resources to learn, grow, and dream. For Foster, following her maid after work led to a discovery that changed her life—a reminder that connection, not solitude, is what truly matters. In a career defined by playing the solitary woman under pressure, Jodie Foster has found a new role: a champion for those whose stories deserve to be heard.
