Jodie Foster, a Hollywood icon renowned for her roles in The Silence of the Lambs and Taxi Driver, has long been a figure of intrigue, both for her acting prowess and her fiercely guarded personal life. While her career has been marked by accolades, her romantic history has often sparked curiosity, particularly her brief and controversial relationship with screenwriter Cynthia Mort. Their affair, which unfolded in 2008, became one of the most talked-about scandals in Foster’s personal life, largely due to its timing and the fallout it caused. This article delves into the details of their fleeting romance, the circumstances that brought them together, the public reaction, and the aftermath that left a lasting mark on Foster’s journey.

The Genesis of a Controversial Connection

Jodie Foster and Cynthia Mort’s paths crossed in 2006 on the set of The Brave One, a psychological thriller in which Foster starred as Erica Bain, a woman seeking revenge after a brutal attack. Mort, a seasoned screenwriter and producer, had co-written the screenplay alongside Roderick Taylor and Bruce A. Taylor. At the time, Foster was in a committed 14-year relationship with film producer Cydney Bernard, with whom she shared two sons, Charles “Charlie” (born 1998) and Christopher “Kit” (born 2001). Mort, on the other hand, was also in a long-term relationship with actress Melanie Mayron, with whom she was raising 10-year-old twins, Olivia and Miles.

Initially, Foster and Mort’s relationship was professional, rooted in their shared creative work on The Brave One. However, their connection deepened over time, evolving from a working friendship into something more intimate. According to a 2008 Daily Mail report, the two bonded over their similar situations as openly queer women in long-term relationships, raising children with their partners. “Both are openly out, had long-term girlfriends, and were raising children with their partners,” an insider revealed. This shared experience created a foundation for their friendship, but it soon spiraled into a romantic affair that would upend both of their lives.

The Affair That Shocked Hollywood

By 2008, Foster and Mort’s relationship had reportedly turned romantic, a development that came as a shock to their respective partners. Foster, then 45, and Mort, 51, ended their long-term relationships to be together, a decision that sent ripples through Hollywood. According to Nicki Swift, Foster’s partner, Cydney Bernard, was blindsided by the revelation. “Cydney had no idea their relationship was in trouble until Jodie came home one day and told her she’d fallen in love with Cindy and was moving out,” a source told the Daily Mail. Similarly, Mort’s partner, Melanie Mayron, was devastated by the breakup, especially given their shared responsibility for their twins.

The affair was particularly scandalous because of its timing. Just five months before the news broke, Foster had publicly honored Bernard at a 2007 Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment event, referring to her as “my beautiful Cydney, who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss.” This public declaration of love made the subsequent breakup even more jarring for observers. The Daily Mail reported that Foster and Mort had been seeing each other since 2007, with their affair heating up over the course of that year. The revelation that Foster had left Bernard for Mort sparked widespread media coverage, with headlines labeling Mort as a “homewrecker” and the affair as “the biggest lesbian love scandal to grip this town in years.”

Who Is Cynthia Mort?

Cynthia Mort, born on June 18, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, was a respected figure in Hollywood at the time of her relationship with Foster. A screenwriter, director, and producer, Mort had built a successful career in television and film. She began as a writer for the sitcom Roseanne in the 1990s, later returning as a supervising producer. Mort also created and executive produced the HBO series Tell Me You Love Me, a show that garnered attention for its explicit depiction of relationships and intimacy. She served as an executive producer on Will & Grace and wrote the screenplay for The Brave One, the project that brought her into Foster’s orbit. By 2008, she was working on a biopic about Nina Simone, which would later be released in 2016 to significant controversy over casting choices.

Mort was described by the Daily Mail as a “highly intelligent, high-profile writer” with a penchant for media attention, a stark contrast to Foster’s preference for privacy. Known for her “youthful Mediterranean looks” and stylish persona, Mort was a rising star in what the publication called the “pink mafia,” a term for influential queer women in Hollywood. Her professional success and bold personality made her an intriguing match for Foster, but their differences in how they navigated fame would soon become a point of tension.

The Public Fallout and Emotional Toll

The affair between Foster and Mort was not just a private matter—it became a public spectacle that highlighted the challenges of maintaining privacy in Hollywood. Foster, who had always been notoriously private, found herself at the center of a media storm. The breakup with Bernard was particularly painful because of their long history and shared family. Foster and Bernard had been together for 14 years, raising two sons, and their relationship had been a cornerstone of Foster’s personal life. The National Enquirer reported that Bernard was “devastated” by the split, a sentiment echoed by sources who noted the emotional toll on both women.

Mort’s relationship with Mayron also suffered, with the Daily Mail reporting that Mayron “has taken it very hard.” The fact that both couples had children added an extra layer of complexity to the situation. Foster and Bernard continued to live together temporarily while Foster made plans to move out, a decision that some speculated was an attempt to mitigate potential legal battles over custody or finances. Indeed, the Daily Mail suggested that Bernard could have pursued a “galimony” lawsuit, similar to high-profile cases like Martina Navratilova’s split with Judy Nelson, though sources deemed this unlikely given their agreement to co-parent their sons.

For Foster, the affair with Mort marked a rare moment of public vulnerability. Known for her stoic demeanor and reluctance to share personal details, Foster was thrust into the spotlight in a way she had always sought to avoid. The PinkNews noted that Foster was “notorious for fiercely guarding her personal life,” even refusing to hire household staff or carry a mobile phone to maintain her privacy. The media frenzy surrounding her relationship with Mort was a stark contrast to the quiet life she had cultivated with Bernard, and it likely contributed to the strain in her new romance.

A Romance That Fizzled Out

Despite the intensity of their initial connection, Foster and Mort’s relationship was short-lived. By September 2009, the National Enquirer reported that Mort had ended the relationship, leaving Foster “shell-shocked” and “miserable.” According to PinkNews, Mort had reignited her romance with an ex-girlfriend, club promoter Amanda Demme, whom she had previously left to be with Foster. “Ironically, now it’s Jodie who has been jilted,” a source told the tabloid, highlighting the dramatic turn of events.

The breakup was a bitter pill for Foster, who had risked so much to be with Mort. The Daily Mail reported that Mort walked out of their shared LA home following a series of heated arguments, a detail that underscored the volatility of their relationship. Some speculated that their differing approaches to fame—Foster’s preference for privacy versus Mort’s comfort with media attention—contributed to their incompatibility. Mort’s decision to pen a piece for a publication about the acceptability of explicit content on screen, as noted by the Daily Mail, suggested a willingness to engage with the public that Foster may have found unsettling.

The Aftermath and Foster’s Reflection

Following the breakup, Foster largely retreated from the public eye to focus on her family and career. In her 2013 Golden Globes acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award, where she publicly came out as gay, Foster announced that she was single, a statement that confirmed the end of her relationship with Mort. She used the speech to pay tribute to Bernard, calling her “one of the deepest loves of my life, my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life.” This acknowledgment highlighted the enduring bond she shared with Bernard, despite the pain of their separation.

The affair with Mort, though brief, left a lasting mark on Foster’s personal narrative. It was a rare moment of turbulence in an otherwise carefully curated life, exposing the vulnerabilities of a woman who had spent decades shielding herself from public scrutiny. The scandal also underscored the challenges faced by queer couples in Hollywood, where relationships are often subject to intense speculation and judgment. Foster’s experience with Mort may have reinforced her commitment to privacy, as she has since maintained a low profile in her subsequent relationship with Alexandra Hedison, whom she married in 2014.

Lessons from a Hollywood Scandal

The whirlwind romance between Jodie Foster and Cynthia Mort remains one of the most controversial chapters in Foster’s personal life. What began as a professional collaboration on The Brave One quickly escalated into a passionate affair that upended two families and captivated the media. Their relationship, though short-lived, highlighted the complexities of love, privacy, and public perception in Hollywood. For Foster, the affair was a painful lesson in the cost of vulnerability, while for Mort, it marked a moment of professional and personal transition.

As of April 2025, Foster has moved forward with her life, finding stability and happiness with Hedison. Her bond with Bernard has also endured, as they continue to co-parent their sons and maintain a close friendship. The affair with Mort, however, serves as a reminder of the fragility of relationships in the spotlight and the resilience required to navigate their aftermath. It’s a chapter in Foster’s life that, while fleeting, revealed the human side of a Hollywood legend—a woman capable of both profound love and profound mistakes, searching for connection in a world that often demands perfection.