Actor Jodie Foster shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes memory from the set of the iconic 1976 film Taxi Driver during a special 50th anniversary reunion at the Tribeca Festival.
Foster, who played the young runaway Iris in the Martin Scorsese classic, reflected on one particularly awkward moment involving Robert De Niro and Scorsese while filming a provocative scene when she was just 12 years old.
According to Foster, both men became so uncomfortable explaining the scene to her that they could barely stop laughing.
“They Couldn’t Stop Giggling”
During the reunion discussion, Foster recalled how Scorsese attempted to explain how her character was supposed to unzip De Niro’s pants during a scene.
However, both Scorsese and De Niro reportedly became increasingly embarrassed while trying to describe what needed to happen on camera.
Foster joked that the two filmmaking legends were “just so nervous” because she was so young at the time.
As the awkward laughter continued, Foster eventually interrupted and confidently explained the scene herself, leaving the audience laughing during the panel discussion.
A Young Actor Who Impressed Scorsese
Scorsese also reflected on first meeting Foster before filming began, recalling how unusually confident and professional she already seemed despite her age.
The director remembered Foster arriving at his office in her school uniform and calmly discussing her acting experience as if she were already a seasoned Hollywood veteran.
Scorsese said she immediately carried herself with “authority” and became an important source of support during what he described as a difficult production.
Foster later admitted she had admired Scorsese’s work long before starring in Taxi Driver.
Inspired By ‘Mean Streets’
During the reunion, Foster revealed that seeing Robert De Niro in Mean Streets as a child completely changed the way she viewed acting and filmmaking.
She said the famous slow-motion bar entrance scene featuring De Niro convinced her she wanted to be part of that style of cinema no matter what role she was offered.
Foster even joked that she once attempted to work as an extra in Scorsese’s New York, New York but was unable to because she was too young to legally work late-night filming hours.
Taxi Driver Remains One Of Hollywood’s Most Influential Films
Released in 1976, Taxi Driver became one of the most critically acclaimed films of its era and helped cement the careers of Scorsese, De Niro, and Foster.
The psychological drama earned multiple Academy Award nominations and remains widely discussed decades later for its performances, writing, and controversial subject matter.
The reunion panel quickly gained attention online as fans celebrated the cast’s memories and Foster’s candid stories from behind the scenes of the legendary film.
