# Who will be our generation's Jodie Foster? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034 "2005-01-28T02:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/21 "2005-01-28T16:42:01Z")
> [@ErinPuff](#): > > Jena Malone? She even played the child version of Jodie Foster’s character in _Contact_. > > (Yes, I know that’s not quite what the question is asking. But Jena Malone anyway.) You beat me to it. There’s something about her in an “old soul” sort of way that makes me think possesses the rare grace that Jodie has ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/22 "2005-01-28T16:43:30Z")
:smack: makes me think _she_… Why don’t i ever learn to hit “preview?” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/23 "2005-01-28T16:45:42Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > IMy money’s on Dakota Fanning. That kid’s got some _serious_ acting chops, and seems extraordinarily poised and intelligent in interview situations. You beat me to it-- that was my initial though, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/24 "2005-01-28T17:00:26Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > You beat me to it-- that was my initial though, too. I’d put money on Dakota Fanning, too, but very carefully–she hasn’t made the transition yet… there’s still time for her to do a crash and burn or fade from the picture (_Hide and Seek_, by all reports, is not a hallmark of her career). Natalie Portman, definitely, if only for the fact that I have a major crush ;). Kirsten Dunst, possibly. Drew Barrymore, certainly. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckForbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ChuckForbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChuckForbin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/25 "2005-01-28T17:18:01Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > … > If asked a couple of years ago, I would’ve suggested Lindsay Lohan, but she has turned out to be a complete bimbo. You know, I’d have to agree with you there. When I saw her as the kid in Parent Trap, dual roles and the British accent, I thought she was destined for very big things. I’ve only seen her since then in Freak Friday, where I still thought she was good. But she now looks destined for a major crash and burn. Yet, for some reason I blame this more on Hollywood and the way young stars are hyped, turned into lip synchers, then abandoned for the next manufactured starlet. Same thing with the Lizzie Maguire girl - very talented actress, but destined for a downward spiral of coke, barbituates, anorexia, then Playboy. (BTW I don’t mean to sound like a creepy guy with a thing for teen actresses, I just watch a lot of Disney Channel with my daughter). ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/26 "2005-01-28T22:12:17Z")
Dod gamn! I hate these threads! Why does everyone have to take my answers before I get here? :mad: :dubious:…okay. 🙂 Jodie Foster was my first Hollywood Crush (the Walt Disney version of “Tom Sawyer” with Johnny Whittaker–of “Family Affair” fame–as Tom, and that Indian guy from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” as Injun Joe). I saw this movie in the theater when I was about eleven, and walked out thinking “I want Becky Thatcher for my girlfriend.” I was right, too. Thirty-ish years later, I _still_ want her. Dakota Fanning was my vote in this poll, too. I’ll agree, she’s still too young for us to know if she’ll do as well as Ms. F., but she’s looking very promising (no, in case you’re asking: I don’t have a crush on _her_ yet, but don’t ask me about Emma Roberts if that sort of thing bothers you…;)). Kirstin Dunst is a fair bet, but I don’t see her doing the kind of things that JF was doing at her age. Same with Christina Ricci. Cool actress, but not (IMO) quite a Jodie. Jodie Foster kicks ass, and always has. Anybody seen “[The Little Girl who Lives Down the Lane](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074806/)”? She was awesome in that, as was Martin Sheen (the creepy bastard–the _character_, not the actor…[sub]frantically dodges lawsuit[/sub]). I SO wanted to be her boyfriend in that movie. Yep, still do. That’s my ultimate litmus test for young actresses. Emma Watson (for example) could marry me TO- **DAY** , but she’s still no Jodie, performance-wise. Still… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/27 "2005-01-28T23:35:11Z")
Definetly Christina Ricci, if anyone. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/28 "2005-01-28T23:38:58Z")
First person to say Lindsey Lohan or one of the other 15-minute career teen stars gets pitted. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/29 "2005-01-29T00:27:10Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > First person to say Lindsey Lohan or one of the other 15-minute career teen stars gets pitted. 🙂 I was going to say Lindsay Lohan. She’s had considerably longer than 15 minutes already; she’s been in movies for seven years now, since the remake of _The Parent Trap_. And she was really good in it. Same for _Freaky Friday_, which she didn’t get enough credit for. Until recently, she came across as somebody who had her head screwed on straight and understood that it was all just a job; we’ll see if she’s able to weather the current marketing blitz and manage to get out from under Disney’s influence. _Mean Girls_ was a good sign that she can; the record albums and the celebrity gossip is a sign that she can’t. Actually Scarlett Johansen gives me the impression of somebody who’s going to fade out pretty quickly. She’s been in some _great_ movies, but IMO has always been one of the least interesting things about the movie; she’s kind of a cipher. _Lost in Translation_ is the closest she’s come to being a stand-out, but that was really Bill Murray and Sofia Coppolla’s movie. And of course, then I realized that Jodie Foster is my generation’s Jodie Foster. Sigh. I hate getting old. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/30 "2005-01-29T00:28:22Z")
Jeez, I complained about getting old, and I didn’t even notice that earlier I used the phrase “record albums.” Where’s my walker? It’s time to watch my stories… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/31 "2005-01-29T01:16:36Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Jeez, I complained about getting old, and I didn’t even notice that earlier I used the phrase “record albums.” > > Where’s my walker? It’s time to watch my stories… I think Matlock is on… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/32 "2005-01-29T01:34:25Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > And of course, then I realized that Jodie Foster is my generation’s Jodie Foster. Sigh. I hate getting old. Me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/33 "2005-01-29T03:20:01Z")
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand the question? She’s a good actress and as classy as a celebrity can get, but what’s so special about Jodie Foster? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/34 "2005-01-29T03:29:01Z")
She’s smart, beautiful, and can hold her own against a serial killer, whats not to love? 🙂 One guy was so in love with her, he shot the most powerful man in the world to try and impress her. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/35 "2005-01-29T13:31:55Z")
Is Reese Witherspoon out just because she did the marry and have kids thing instead of the university gig? She’s always struck me as scarily smart as Jodie, although I don’t know if she qualifies as a child star exactly. Barring Reese, I’m going with Christina Ricci. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/36 "2005-01-29T15:01:51Z")
In terms of child-star-becoming-respected-as-serious-actor, the only contender is Leonardo Decaprio. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/37 "2005-01-29T15:37:27Z")
There won’t be another Jodie Foster. Some of the suggestions here are of good actresses and beautiful woman. But they aren’t Jodie Foster. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/38 "2005-01-29T17:05:26Z")
Natalie Portman is on my shit list. In many interviews praising her for Closer and Garden State she mentions she doesn’t do her best work when she’s bored as a justification of her wooden acting in Star Wars. When someone is giving you _millions_ of dollars to do a job, you’d better bring your A game, bored or not. That’s what “professional” means, doing your best, even when it’s not really fun. Star Wars had plenty of other problems, but one of the lead actors looking like she’d rather be any place else really hurts the pic. Can you imagine, after a poor workplace performance, telling your boss you don’t do your best work when bored? Sorry for the rant, but her “bored” comments really set me off. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/39 "2005-01-29T17:16:09Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > In terms of child-star-becoming-respected-as-serious-actor, the only contender is Leonardo Decaprio. Y’know, that’s actually not a bad comparison… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/40 "2005-01-29T17:56:42Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > In terms of child-star-becoming-respected-as-serious-actor, the only contender is Leonardo Decaprio. Who respects LD as a serious actor? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034.md?page=3)