It is safe to say that Jodie Foster possesses a unique empathy and knack for connecting with others. That is probably why she can pull off so many different roles and really get under people’s skin with her performances. She has never been one to play by the typical Hollywood rules either. Foster’s reluctance to conform to the typical Hollywood starlet image extended to her longstanding resistance to giving away much about her life off-camera. But it is not to create some kind of mystery around her.

She has always been firm about keeping her personal life out of the spotlight, especially for the sake of her kids, Charlie and Kit. Foster wanted her sons to see her as a regular mom, not some Hollywood bigshot.

Who is Charlie?

Jodie Foster welcomed Charles Bernard Foster into the world in July 1998 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She shares Charlie with her former partner, Cydney Bernard, with whom she was in a relationship for 15 years before they parted ways in 2008. Foster met Cydney Bernard, who was working as a production coordinator at the time, on the set of Sommersby. They were together from 1993 until 2008. While Foster is Charlie’s biological mother, the identity of his biological father has never been disclosed.

Both Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard were deeply involved in Charlie’s upbringing and ensured he had a balanced childhood despite their Hollywood ties. Charlie then took his talents to Yale University, where he explored his passions in both arts and academics. During his time there, he got his feet wet in theater productions, both on stage and behind the scenes, from 2017 to 2021.

Described as a “natural-born artist” with a knack for improv, Charlie continues to heed Jodie Foster’s advice to forge his path in the Hollywood industry.

Who is Kit?

Christopher Bernard Foster, aka Kit, was born in sunny Los Angeles on September 29, 2001. Jodie Foster, understanding her kid’s need for a stable routine, ensured he had a solid upbringing. Foster often says Kit is the “nicest person,” pointing out his gentle nature and lack of interest in the glitzy showbiz scene. Unlike Charlie, Kit is not itching to hit the stage. He is more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.

Foster, however, totally gets Kit’s tendency to be more comfortable out of the spotlight. “My younger son is really shy and I can promise you he will never be an actor,” Foster told The Guardian in July 2018. Nonetheless, Charles and Kit are now fully grown and the Academy Award-winning actress has always been mindful that one day she would experience the empty nest syndrome.

What is Jodie Foster’s philosophy of parenting?

Jodie Foster has always been very open to parenting two sons. Growing up, the actress made sure that her kids only really saw her as a mom rather than an acclaimed actress. This was something she also recently said in Tom Allen’s podcast, Plot Twists. Foster’s commitment to offering her children a stable and ordinary upbringing is deeply rooted in her own childhood experiences.

Despite her fame, she had always been juggling between her career and craving a regular family life. She even went as far as keeping her career on the down-low from her children. Back in 2013 at the Golden Globes, she called her family a “modern family,” giving a nod to her ex-partner and kids who have been major players in her life.

What do you think about Jodie Foster’s children and her philosophy of parenting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!