- Jodie Foster’s iconic portrayal of Clarice Starling in The Silence of The Lambs showcased vulnerability and power simultaneously.
- Foster suggested making Starling look scared in a disturbing scene, highlighting her character’s strength despite not being powerful physically.
- Clarice Starling’s character could be seen as a male character in terms of being an action hero, but Foster’s depiction made her unique and memorable.
Jodie Foster has played many roles in her career, but her most iconic would have to be her role as Clarice Starling in The Silence of The Lambs. Other actresses have portrayed Starling as well, such as Julianne Moore in the sequel Hannibal, and Rebecca Breeds in the TV series Clarice, but Foster’s Oscar-winning performance remains unmatched. She was able to make the character of Starling more than just another typical FBI agent.
In a recent interview with Variety before the release of her new project, True Detective: Night Country, Foster was asked about a particularly disturbing scene in The Silence of the Lambs which showed a vulnerable side to Starling. In the scene, Starling is in killer Buffalo Bill’s lair, stumbling in the dark and visibly upset as she tries to save herself and his potential victim. Foster revealed that it was her idea to make Starling appear scared, saying:
It was my idea. That felt right to me. There was something unexpected about Clarice – that she was able to have power, but was so vulnerable and had that smallness. She recognized that she wasn’t powerful physically, and it didn’t occur to me that there was anything revolutionary about that. You’re playing somebody who could be what we see as a male character – the action guy. But she’s not; she’s Clarice.
Throughout her five-decade career, Foster has appeared in various genres, from childhood roles in Bugsy Malone and Taxi Driver to exploring the universe in Contact. She is now returning to the crime genre with her latest project, True Detective: Night Country. The fourth season of the anthology series has garnered a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 28 reviews.
In the series, Foster plays Liz Danvers, the chief of police in a remote Alaskan town. Alongside her Indigenous partner, Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis), she investigates the mysterious disappearance of scientists at a research station. With elements of drama, humor, and a hint of the supernatural, Night Country has received rave reviews and is set to premiere on HBO on January 14, 2024.