Jodie Foster: Actors Make the Best Directors

Cannes 2025: Jodie Foster Explains Why Actors Make the Best Directors Renowned actress and director Jodie Foster, in Cannes to promote her new French-language film "Vie Privée," recently shared her unique perspective on directing. Speaking from years of experience in both acting and directing, Foster argued that actors often make the best directors. "Actors are the only people on set, besides the camera operator, who truly understand why a scene works, and why it doesn’t," Foster stated. Her insight highlights the importance of understanding the emotional arc of a scene and the ability to translate intention from script to screen. Foster's perspective is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing conversation surrounding the challenges and opportunities for women in the film industry. Her comments provide valuable insights into the unique skillset actors bring to directing and offer a hopeful outlook on the future of filmmaking.