Jodie Foster, one of Hollywood’s most revered talents, has dropped a bombshell about her experience filming the iconic 1976 masterpiece Taxi Driver. In a candid interview with Vanity Fair on June 15, 2025, the Oscar-winning actress, now 62, disclosed that her co-star Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese were “scared” of her during the production of the controversial film. At just 12 years old, Foster played the provocative role of Iris, a child prostitute, opposite De Niro’s unhinged Travis Bickle. Her revelations about the set dynamics, her precocious confidence, and the unease of two cinematic titans have reignited fascination with the film nearly five decades later. 💥 From behind-the-scenes tensions to Foster’s fearless performance, here’s the untold story of how a young actress left De Niro and Scorsese rattled on one of cinema’s most legendary sets. 🔥

A Child Star in a Gritty World

Taxi Driver, directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, is a gritty portrait of urban alienation, centered on Travis Bickle (De Niro), a Vietnam War veteran turned cab driver spiraling into obsession and violence in 1970s New York City. The film, which earned four Oscar nominations and the Palme d’Or at Cannes, is celebrated for its raw intensity, De Niro’s transformative performance, and its unflinching depiction of societal decay. At its heart is Foster’s character, Iris, a runaway teen entangled in the city’s underbelly, whose relationship with Travis becomes a pivotal, albeit disturbing, anchor of the story.

Foster was no stranger to acting when she landed the role. By age 12, she had already appeared in over 20 projects, including Disney’s Freaky Friday and Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). Her precocious talent and professionalism were evident, but Taxi Driver was a leap into darker, more adult territory. The role of Iris required Foster to navigate sexually explicit scenes, wear revealing costumes, and portray a character caught in a world of exploitation—all under the scrutiny of a major Hollywood production. “I was a kid, but I wasn’t naive,” Foster told Vanity Fair. “I’d seen things, I’d read things, and I knew what the film was about. But I think Marty and Bob were terrified of how to handle me.”

Why De Niro and Scorsese Were ‘Scared’

Foster’s revelation that De Niro and Scorsese were “scared” of her stems from a mix of her youthful confidence, the film’s sensitive subject matter, and the inherent awkwardness of directing a child in such a provocative role. “They didn’t know what to do with me,” she recalled with a laugh. “I was this 12-year-old who walked onto set like I owned it, asking questions, giving opinions. I think I freaked them out.” Foster described how her directness—honed from years of working in the industry—clashed with the set’s tense atmosphere. De Niro, then 32 and deeply immersed in his Method acting process, and Scorsese, 33 and navigating his first major studio film, were cautious around her, unsure how to balance her youth with the film’s mature themes.

The role of Iris was controversial from the start. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2016 oral history of Taxi Driver, the Los Angeles Welfare Board initially objected to Foster’s casting, requiring psychological evaluations to ensure she could handle the material. Her mother, Brandy Foster, was a constant presence on set, overseeing her daughter’s scenes, which included dialogue about prostitution and implied sexual encounters. Foster noted that Scorsese, aware of the scrutiny, was “paranoid” about directing her in certain scenes. “Marty would get all nervous, like, ‘Okay, Jodie, just… stand there and say the line,’” she said. “He’d avoid giving me too much direction because he was afraid of crossing a line.”

De Niro, meanwhile, was grappling with his own challenges. His preparation for Travis Bickle was famously intense—he drove cabs, lost weight, and studied Midwestern accents to inhabit the character’s psyche. Foster recalled De Niro being “distant” and “awkward” with her off-camera, despite their now-iconic diner scene together. “Bob was so in his head, and I was this kid who kept trying to talk to him about the script,” she said. “I think he was scared of saying the wrong thing or making me uncomfortable.” Their interactions were limited to professional necessities, with De Niro taking her to a diner to rehearse their scene multiple times, a process Foster described as “sweet but super serious.”

A Fearless Performance Amid Tensions

Despite the unease, Foster’s performance as Iris remains one of Taxi Driver’s most haunting elements. Her portrayal—equal parts vulnerable, defiant, and tragically naive—earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at age 14, making her one of the youngest nominees in Academy history. Critics praised her ability to hold her own against De Niro’s volcanic intensity. Variety’s 1976 review called her “astonishingly assured,” while Roger Ebert later wrote that Foster brought “a heartbreaking authenticity” to Iris, making her more than a plot device in Travis’s descent.

Foster’s confidence on set was both a blessing and a source of tension. She recounted challenging Scorsese on certain choices, like suggesting tweaks to her dialogue to sound more natural for a teenage runaway. “I’d say, ‘Marty, no kid would say it like that,’ and he’d just stare at me, like I was speaking another language,” she laughed. Her boldness, while admirable, unsettled the crew, who were already on edge about the film’s controversial content. Rolling Stone’s 2021 retrospective noted that Taxi Driver faced backlash for glorifying violence and exploiting Iris’s character, with some critics arguing the film sexualized Foster. Scorsese and De Niro, aware of the potential fallout, were hyper-cautious, which Foster believes amplified their discomfort around her.

The film’s most contentious scenes, like Iris’s interactions with her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), required careful choreography. Foster’s older sister, Connie, served as her body double for some shots, and certain moments were rewritten to appease censors. “Everyone was walking on eggshells,” Foster said. “But I was like, ‘Let’s just do the work.’ I think that threw them off—here’s this kid who’s not fazed by any of it.” Her professionalism, shaped by her mother’s guidance and her own maturity, allowed her to navigate the role with remarkable poise, but it also made her an enigma to her adult colleagues.

Reflections on a Controversial Classic

Foster’s Vanity Fair interview coincides with renewed interest in Taxi Driver as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026. The film remains a cultural touchstone, influencing everything from Joker (2019) to modern discussions about toxic masculinity and urban isolation. Foster, now a seasoned director and actress with credits like The Silence of the Lambs and Nyad, reflects on her Taxi Driver experience with a mix of pride and perspective. “I’m not sure I’d let a 12-year-old do that role today,” she admitted. “The world’s different now, and we’re more aware of how those images can be perceived. But back then, I just saw it as a job, and I loved the challenge.”

She harbors no resentment toward De Niro or Scorsese, describing them as “geniuses” who were “trying their best” under pressure. “They were making something daring, and I was a wildcard they didn’t expect,” she said. Foster remains close to Scorsese, having collaborated with him again on The King of Comedy (1982), and she’s praised De Niro’s mentorship over the years. In a 2023 W Magazine interview, she called De Niro “a great friend,” noting that their Taxi Driver dynamic evolved into mutual respect as she grew older.

Fan Reactions and Legacy

The revelation that De Niro and Scorsese were “scared” of Foster has sparked a wave of reactions on social media. On X, fans expressed awe at her precocity, with posts like, “Jodie Foster intimidating De Niro and Scorsese at 12 is iconic! 😎🎥” and “Imagine being so confident at that age you scare two legends. Jodie’s a queen! 👑” Others debated the ethics of casting a child in such a role, with a Reddit thread on r/movies questioning whether Taxi Driver could be made today. “Jodie was incredible, but the role was so risky,” one user wrote. “No wonder Scorsese was freaking out.”

The controversy surrounding Foster’s casting persists, with some modern critics arguing that Iris’s sexualization was exploitative, while others defend the film’s artistic intent. Indiewire’s 2021 analysis called Foster’s performance “a masterclass in subtlety,” but noted that the role “walks a fine line between commentary and complicity.” Foster herself has addressed this, telling The Guardian in 2018 that she viewed Iris as a “survivor” and focused on her humanity, not the sensationalism.

A Testament to Foster’s Power

Jodie Foster’s Taxi Driver revelations offer a fascinating glimpse into the making of a cinematic milestone. Her ability to unsettle two of Hollywood’s greatest talents at such a young age speaks to her extraordinary presence, both then and now. As Taxi Driver continues to captivate new generations, Foster’s story underscores the complexities of creating art that pushes boundaries—especially when a fearless 12-year-old is at the center of it all. 😲 Whether De Niro and Scorsese were scared of her confidence, her youth, or the weight of the project, one thing is clear: Jodie Foster was, and remains, a force to be reckoned with. 🌟