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

[MNUse]

Been mildly curious about this for a while. I’m a gay woman and my loving well-meaning mother will occasionally make slightly clumsy attempts to bring up gay films or famous gay women that she assumes I must be interested in because they are also gay (e.g. Ellen Page as was). But she has never mentioned Jodie Foster, and although I haven’t tested it I get the impression she isn’t aware, maybe partly because although JF is now ten years married to a woman she has never quite made the big ‘I am gay’ speech.

AIBU to think a lot of straight women still haven’t really noticed that Jodie Foster is gay? And, if I’m wrong, when did you become aware?

YABU - I know, I’ve known for ages, yawn

YANBU - I didn’t know, or didn’t know until very recently, but anyway, yawn

OBVIOUSLY what matters is her acting, but I am mildly curious about what causes someone’s gayness to register/not register with the wider public

I don’t really know who she is, I mean I know her name but not what she looks like or what she’s been in, so I guess no I don’t 😂.

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?

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 .

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!

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.

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

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

Always surprised Robbie Robertson didn`t act more.

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

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

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.

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.

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. 🤦‍♀️

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

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

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, 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’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.

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.

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.

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

Did you not read the post upthread mentioning how Kristen Stewart said she was told, recently, that she maybe could get a Marvel role if she stopped holding her girlfriend’s hand in public?

Also, like everyone on this thread, I wasn’t born in 2024. I was born several decades ago, and the prejudice I experienced in the 90s and 00s affected me and continues to affect me, and it continues to affect Jodie Foster as evidenced by the fact that she only ‘officially’ came out 10 years ago and seemingly continues to feel slightly uncomfortable talking about it. People praising how private she is are being wilfully obtuse about the fact that until fairly recently she really didn’t have any other option if she wanted to keep her career.

The psychological damage caused by decades of homophobia doesn’t magically vanish just because straight people eventually decided they had other things to think about.

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.

Such an important point. Fame & prosperity confer advantage and privilege not routinely available to non star gay folk.

I would hope that there are more role models for young women these days but back then, there weren't.
Anne Heche had an awful time of it when Six days, seven nights came out.
It is an important topic and an interesting one, simply because in this day the freedoms that straight people take for granted ought to be the case for all but clearly still aren't.
You ought to not feel you have to be closeted in order to be considered for different roles. Similarly, you shouldn't feel the need to announce it - straight people don't.
In a film landscape where you had straight actors "playing gay for pay" (Eric Stonestreet) or being lauded for taking on a gay role (Tom Hanks), it's unsurprising that now many directors/producers (Ryan Murphy) want gay actors in gay roles.
Acting - however - is acting; in theory, you ought to be able to take on any role.
Conflict comes with appropriation, "jewface" recently (Helen Mirren, Bradley Cooper), trans roles by non-trans actors.
Actors themselves don't want to be sidelined or put in a box. Rupert Everett was vocal on this.

I mentioned Andrew Scott upthread as he recently said the phrase "openly gay" should be put to bed.
Andrew has been a tour de force in his ability to take on any role and character, gay or straight. His own sexual preference plays no part in how credible his characters are - charisma, chemistry, attractiveness, bloody good acting - his career thus far has been diverse and interesting.
It's a shame that others are restricted, pigeon-holed, warned by agents to keep shtum and often labelled when they do speak out/show up on the red carpet with a same-sex partner.
Visibility and representation make a huge difference to vulnerable teens though. Layton Williams, Olly Alexander, Sam Smith, Billy Porter, Lil Nas X, Todrick Hall.
I'm sure there are some famous young lesbians out there too (Nicola Adams, Jojo Siwa) bisexual or non-binary (Cara Delevingne, Bella Ramsey) but I don't know whether I could name as many. Whether this is progress (they don't feel the need to as society is more accepting) or plus ca change (those in the public eye remain closeted because of fears of impact on careers), I don't know. Hannah Gadsby has talked about the lack of representation growing up. Perhaps our kids' generation don't need it as much with the different labels flying around but that's a different thread in itself - whether it's more socially acceptable/easier to come out as trans or bi than gay.

Who?