# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/41 "2005-01-29T18:02:02Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Who respects LD as a serious actor? 🙂 Titantic and Aviator are a good start. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/42 "2005-01-29T18:07:17Z")
Heck, if we’re going back as far as Leo, I nominate Jennifer Connelly. She’s not done any behind the camera work as far as I know, but she’s come a long way from her wooden (albeit beautiful) role as Sarah in _Labyrinth_. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/43 "2005-01-29T23:56:41Z")
> [@Queen Tonya](#): > > 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. I thought about suggesting Reese myself. Then I remembered **Sweet Home Alabama** and **Legally Blonde 2**. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/44 "2005-01-30T01:08:23Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I’m still not sure what we’re talking about, but that’s what I assumed, too. > > My money’s on Dakota Fanning. That kid’s got some _serious_ acting chops, and seems extraordinarily poised and intelligent in interview situations. > > (Well, she _could_ be from the Girl’s generation. How old is she supposed to be, anyway?) Oh, that’s the kid from _I Am Sam_ and _Taken_, right? Yeah, I can see her as the next Jodie Foster. Easily. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/45 "2005-01-30T01:19:06Z")
> [@sleeepy2](#): > > 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. I’ve also heard nasty stories about Portman being… uh, let’s say “less than gracious” when approached by fans. I’m sure it totally sucks to have people intrude on you all the time. When you’re not on the clock, you shouldn’t _have to_ play the Good Celebrity, but still. Be polite. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/46 "2005-01-30T09:33:50Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Who respects LD as a serious actor? 🙂 Anyone who actually pays attention to his career as a whole instead of focusing in on his teen heartthrob phase from almost a decade ago. ---
**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 31, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/47 "2005-01-31T15:06:34Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > 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… Finally! Someone else that’s seen “The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane!” Great movie and she was fabulous in it. That’s where I learned that cyanide smelled like almonds. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/48 "2005-01-31T15:24:08Z")
Anna Paquin-only if she starts getting leading roles shortly… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/49 "2005-01-31T16:53:49Z")
I’m going to second Dakota Fanning - especially since I had this exact same thought this weekend. She’s now co-starred aside Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, Robert DiNiro, Tom Cruise (the upcoming War of the Worlds), Tim Robbins (same), and Charlize Theron. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/50 "2005-01-31T17:02:09Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > I’ve also heard nasty stories about Portman being… uh, let’s say “less than gracious” when approached by fans. > > I’m sure it totally sucks to have people intrude on you all the time. When you’re not on the clock, you shouldn’t _have to_ play the Good Celebrity, but still. Be polite. Um, have you ever waited in line for one of the Star Wars movies on opening weekends, or gone to a sci-fi convention? I’m sure Ms Portman is sick to death of being accosted by stereotypical Star Wars fanboys, and having starred in such a franchise as Star Wars, I’m sure she has to deal with the geeks and freaks much more than other actresses do. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/51 "2005-01-31T18:08:04Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Um, have you ever waited in line for one of the Star Wars movies on opening weekends, or gone to a sci-fi convention? I’m sure Ms Portman is sick to death of being accosted by stereotypical Star Wars fanboys, and having starred in such a franchise as Star Wars, I’m sure she has to deal with the geeks and freaks much more than other actresses do. It probably doesn’t have much to do with Star Wars. After she did the Professional (at the age of 12 or 13), she evidently drew a lot of attention from pedophiles and she and her family had to work very hard to maintain her privacy. I’m sure being approached by a stranger isn’t easy to deal with given some of the creeps who’ve tried to get close to her. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/52 "2005-01-31T23:34:43Z")
Nuh-uh. Elijah Wood ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/53 "2005-01-31T23:39:54Z")
Sorry, I meant to quote the post about DiCaprio and hit the quick reply instead. That is, Elijah Wood beats Leo hands down as child-star-becomes-serious-actor. If we’re going to expand the discussion to boys. Oh, and I loved The Little Girl Who Lived Down The Lane. Howcome TBS doesn’t get hold of that and play it to death. The [book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0822215713/qid=1107215366/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-7662376-3782430?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was awesome too! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/54 "2005-02-01T00:48:49Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > I’ve also heard nasty stories about Portman being… uh, let’s say “less than gracious” when approached by fans… Best Natalie Portman story I’ve heard is the one from Newsweek about _Closer_, that said when filming started she wanted to make friends with Julia Roberts. So she had a necklace made that spelled “C\*\*T” (without the asterisks) and gave it to her. And that’s someone she _liked_. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/55 "2005-02-01T02:39:28Z")
We’ll have to see what he does when he gets older, but what about Haley Joel Osment? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034/56 "2005-02-01T03:43:16Z")
Actually, DiCaprio’s not a bad pick. He was amazing very young in _This Boy’s Life_ and in _What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?_. Far better choices than Jodie at that same stage of her career (see _Bugsy Malone_ and _Candleshoe_). He did the crappy sitcom route for a bit (Growing Pains) but then, Foster did The Partridge Family, so you can’t say they both haven’t taken jobs just for the paycheck. People are pretty quick to jump on DiCaprio for his role in Titanic, but that movie was HUGE - someone must have liked it. Foster has taken roles that were critically slammed, as has DiCaprio, and both have been very successful in comebacks after disasters. Interesting sidenote: both “broke through” in roles opposite Robert DeNiro. And now little Dakota Fanning is co-starring with him in _Hide & Seek_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-our-generations-jodie-foster/287034.md?page=2)