Jodie Foster has given new insight into her experience acting alongside Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film, Taxi Driver. Reflecting on their working relationship, Foster described De Niro as an exceptional performer but revealed she initially found him distant and ‘uninteresting,’ a perspective shaped by his intense commitment to method acting, which colored their early interactions on set and off.
First Encounters Between Foster and De Niro During Taxi Driver
During a discussion at the Marrakech Film Festival, Foster recounted her initial meeting with De Niro as they began preparations for their roles in Robert De Niro Taxi Driver. She revealed that De Niro’s approach involved remaining deeply absorbed in his character even during off-set rehearsals and meetings. This intensity meant that their time spent together revolved around endlessly running through lines, sometimes repeating them several times as part of his process.
“We’d run the lines and run the lines a second and third time,”
Foster remembered.
“And I’m sure maybe some of you have been here when Robert De Niro was here. One of our greatest American actors, so proud to have worked with him — not the most interesting person on earth.”
– Jodie Foster, Actor (via Variety)
Foster explained that De Niro’s dedication to authenticity made conversations outside of script work feel stilted. The Oscar winner described lunches with De Niro where he remained so much in character that he barely spoke, often leaving her to find conversation elsewhere.
“And at that time, he was very much in character, the way he was in those days,”
Foster shared.
“So he was really uninteresting, and I remember having these lunches with him and being like, ‘What is happening? When can I go home?’ And he wouldn’t really be able to talk to me, so I would talk to the waiters and the people in the restaurants,”
she added. – Jodie Foster, Actor
Foster Gains Appreciation for De Niro’s Method
Although Foster initially perceived these prolonged meetings and quiet interactions as dull, her understanding changed as she grew to recognize De Niro’s process. By their third lunch, De Niro guided Foster through improvisation exercises, which became a watershed moment in her development as an actor.
“He finally walked me through improvisation by the time we had our third lunch together, and it opened my eyes to what acting could be,”
she shared. – Jodie Foster, Actor
Foster recalled how a sudden realization following this experience reshaped her perspective toward acting and her working relationship with De Niro. The moment resonated so much that she recounted sharing her excitement with her mother, sensing a clear turning point in her approach to her work.
“I remember how excited I was, I remember being kind of sweaty and excited and giggly and coming back up into the hotel room to meet my mom and saying, ‘I’ve had this epiphany.’ And I think from there, everything changed.”
– Jodie Foster, Actor
Taxi Driver’s Lasting Influence and Foster’s Acclaim
Jodie Foster portrayed Iris Steensma, a 12-year-old child prostitute, in Martin Scorsese’s landmark 1976 film. Her nuanced performance alongside Robert De Niro earned her widespread recognition and her first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. Foster’s candid recounting of her early impressions and later appreciation for De Niro’s methods highlights both the creative challenges and artistic growth involved in bringing such a renowned film to life.
The revelations shared at the Marrakech Film Festival provide a rare look at the complex interpersonal dynamics and evolving respect that accompanied the making of Robert De Niro Taxi Driver, underscoring the film’s enduring impact on those who helped create it and its place in film history.
