Jodie Foster Defends Mel Gibson Despite Controversies: 'I Love This Guy'

In an industry where conformity often trumps authenticity, Jodie Foster has always marched to her own beat. The two-time Oscar winner believes opportunities should only be pursued when they align with genuine passion, not just for the sake of staying busy or earning a paycheck.

Foster once criticized actors who take any role without caring about quality, stating, "I don't understand how they just want to act. They don't care if the movie's bad. They don't care if the dialogue is bad. They don't care if they're a grape in a Fruit of the Loom ad." For her, performing is about being a "vessel for story or cinema" rather than simply chasing fame or money.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Having navigated Hollywood's challenges since childhood, Foster now feels compelled to guide emerging talent through the industry's harsh realities. She regularly reaches out to young actresses, including Bella Ramsey from HBO's The Last of Us, whom she asked to introduce her at Elle's 2023 Women in Hollywood event.

"I do a lot of reaching out to young actresses. I'm compelled. Because it was hard growing up," Foster explained to The Guardian. Her own difficult experiences fuel her desire to support newcomers facing similar struggles in an increasingly diverse but still brutal entertainment landscape.

An Unlikely Hollywood Friendship

Among the lessons Foster learned was balancing control, resilience, and humility regardless of a project's potential success. This philosophy led to one of her most enduring professional relationships when she starred opposite Mel Gibson in the 1994 Western comedy Maverick.

The connection was immediate and powerful. "I've never worked with anybody I've liked so much," Foster told The Washington Post in 1994. "I mean, I have respect for his talent and all that, but I just like him. He's so many things that I'm not. He's incredibly uncomplicated for one thing. And the first time I met him, I walked into the room, and I said, 'I love this guy.'"

Standing by a Controversial Figure

Gibson's career has been marked by numerous scandals, including accusations of sexism, racism, homophobia, domestic abuse allegations, and multiple arrests. Despite this baggage, Foster maintained her loyalty when she cast him in her 2011 directorial effort, The Beaver.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Foster acknowledged the complexity of publicly supporting Gibson while defending their bond. "He's so incredibly loving and sensitive, he really is," she said. "He is the most loved actor I have ever worked with on a movie. And he's not saintly, and he's got a big mouth, and he'll do gross things your nephew would do. But I knew the minute I met him that I would love him the rest of my life."