Yet as a kid actor she was told her career would be over by the time she 18.
As a leading lady, she was told her career would be over by the time she was 40.
Now - two Oscars, two Golden Globes, three BAFTAs and more than a few iconic roles later - Jodie Foster is doing what she originally wanted to do: directing.
In Australia promoting her fourth movie Money Monster, Foster says one of the things she misses about the current state of the film industry is director's vision.
"I feel like the respect for the director's vision is gone in mainstream movies.
"I think that's what was always wonderful about the art of filmmaking was that it was about one signature and one voice that was at the helm.
"It's what I always wanted to do as an actor was serve a director, that's why I was there: to serve a director."
Source: The Feed
Over her extensive career in Hollywood, Foster has persevered and outlasted many of her peers while navigating the murky waters of showbusiness.
She recalls one specific incident when she was 14 and at a friend's sleepover, where a male producer called her up and "pretended" that they had missed a meeting - all the while knowing that her mother was out of town.
"He had me come to the appointment and was talking to me and asked me to take my jacket off an turn around so he could see my body," Foster recalls.
"You know, I was 14 and kinda chubby with pimples and whatever. But yeah ... my agent went to his office and punched him in the face."
" ... my agent went to his office and punched him in the face."
Foster has spent significant time away from movie sets over the years, taking breaks from the industry, yet says she always "misses it" when she gives herself breathing room.
"It's my whole life. I feel like I've spent more time on movie sets than anywhere else.
"So I always feel a little lost if I haven't been near a movie set in a while.
"I'm really comfortable in that group of 170 people during the day and everyone has their task and knows what their job is.
"There's an understanding - like a handshake - about when you get in someone's space and when you don't.
