Straight women, were/are you aware that Jodie Foster is gay?

If your sexuality has never been an issue you are privileged. Privileged people often don't like acknowledging their privilege.

Homophobia hasn't disappeared any more than racism or sexism has.

What makes a gay icon beyond being gay and an icon?

Who are gay icons?

But that was 30-40 years ago, why is the OP starting a thread about anyone’s sexuality in 2024? That’s the least interesting thing about an actress of JF’s calibre. I saw what the OP wrote about JF’s potential for being a gay role model, but she hadn’t been very vocal about her private life so she clearly doesn’t want to be seen as a gay icon.

The OP wasn't asking if anyone cared.

It's an odd thing to respond with. It reminds me of when people say they don't see colour. It just screams privilege.

Yes I knew she was gay and yes it mattered to me because it meant I had a chance. A small small chance.

When Drew Barrymore came out as bi I not only felt less alone, but I was pretty sure we were destined to be together. Granted I was 14.

I’ve known for years but can’t remember how/ when I found out. I thought she was incredible in Silence of the Lambs so probably found out soon after watching that as a teen, when I probably looked her up.

As a straight woman I have something of a crush on her… Can’t really pinpoint why - there’s a few other strong female actresses I think are very magnetic too.

Yes, it's interesting how we form opinions about people according to how they are portrayed in the media. In all areas of life. And definitely there is money behind it.

I remember Meryl Streep in an interview saying she was turned down for roles because of her looks and for not being ‘beautiful’ enough. Both Jodie and Meryl are not maybe not conventionally beautiful in society’s eyes as Julia Roberts is perceived I guess but they both have a very special something that adds to their attractiveness and are of course amazing at their craft. 😁

Yes. I knew. Am straight but will probably turn for Jodie! (Just in case she’s reading Mumsnet🤣)

I've known forever, even before she came out.

Thanks for your thread @MNUse

We’re watching Silence of the Lambs now, and have Little Girl who lives down the lane earmarked too.

Though DS1 asked if they had colour tv back then. 🤦‍♀️

but she was definitely attractive and the movie studio know that straight guys might go to see her in a movie for that reason alone,

Yes, @CrashyTime you are right, she is a beautiful woman and was definitely presented as such. But my point was she was never primarily presented for her beauty but for her talent - in the same way as, say, Meryl Streep, who is also a beautiful woman but also a towering talent. As opposed to, say, Julia Roberts.

Yes it was very well known in the 90s when I was a teen. As in “I saw that film with Jodie Foster you know the lesbian one.” that’s hiw I became aware it was just mentioned in passing with her name.

Which, actually, makes me wonder when women stopped saying “lesbian” and started said “gay” as if lesbians have somehow been subsumed by gay men.

geez, I' don't see the big deal in asking if we knew, when we knew, after all, we're allowed to speculate on straight actors and their love lives. I can't believe the thread police. I mean, why does anybody ever discuss anything

My DM had a feeling she was back in the 80s which is when I first heard about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carny_(1980_film

Always surprised Robbie Robertson didn`t act more.

Yes, I'm straight.
Yes, I knew.
eta: And I've known for as long as I can remember.

Well what reply would you want people to give?
That they didn’t know and they will never watch her films again?
That they did know and they think she is amazing and brave for being an out gay woman?
or
That they don’t care. It’s nothing to do with them.
Let’s think about say, Anthony Hopkins, is he straight or gay? I have no idea. Does it matter? No.

Interesting points, but those films and actors you mention are from a different era of film making, the Marvel stuff that gets churned out now isnt in the same Universe at all, it is obviously made to try and compete with all the other screen distractions people are exposed to long enough to get them into the cinema to spend 40 quid on coke and some sweets, not the studios fault really more just a symptom of the modern multi-media world. I dont think IM is particularly "warm" as a personality whether he is gay or straight, that is just him I suppose, RH seemed to be able to represent "masculinity" for many years for whatever reason, that is just how the movies work I suppose, nothing is as it seems? There is the famous scene with Doris Day where he mimics a gay man to get her to laugh when he is chatting to her at a bar in one of their Rom-Com movies, so you have a gay actor pretending to be straight playing a straight man pretending to be gay! Only in Hollywood, and only in the 50`s would that work!

Watching her in true detective and watched NYAD recently. I absolutely love her . But yes I've known she's gay for a long time . I'm straight but find her very attractive . I love
The way she's aging . I think she's a terrific actress .

That is an astonishing conclusion to reach given that almost every poster has confirmed they already knew about Ms Foster's sexuality and they are unaffected by it.

What sort of replies did you hope for?

What’s it got to do with ANYONE??

I think I see. You are saying there are degrees of not being selfish. So, Ms Foster isn't selfish for keeping her private life private, but she would be even less not selfish if she talked about it.

A person's sexuality doesn't have to define them. If she wants to be an superb actor who happens to be gay rather than a gay actor, that's fine. It doesn't make her any degree of selfish.

Likewise, it's not selfish to be unaffected (or to admit to being unaffected) by the sexuality of a person wholly unconnected to us.