Jodie Foster Recalls Telling Robert Downey Jr. She Was Scared During Peak Of His Addiction

Jodie Foster still remembers working with Robert Downey Jr. at the height of his addictions.

The Oscar winner happily directed Downey in Home for the Holidays (1995), but had to have an honest chat about his substance abuse while filming at the time. Downey landed drug and weapons charges in 1996 and was sentenced to three years in 1999.

I took him aside at one point during filming and said, Look, I couldnt be more grateful for what youve given in this film, Foster told Esquire for an in-depth profile on Downey published Monday . But Im scared of what happens to you next.

Right now you are incredibly good at balancing on the barstool, she purportedly continued telling Downey during production. But its really precarious, and Im not sure how thats going to end.

Downey shared his own version of events in 2020 and told David Letterman that Foster was really critical during production and told him: Well, looks like youre getting away with it on this one! I wouldnt try this again, because were kind of a forgiving group.

I was like, Wasnt that last take great? and she goes, Yeah, youre great, its going great, he continued at the time. And then when I was locked up in a penitentiary, she sent me a letter saying, Let me tell you what I meant by Its going great.

The Iron Man star was reportedly sent to North Kern State Prison for violating his parole several times and admitted on the Armchair Expert podcast that it was the most dangerous place hed ever been. Downey went on to serve 15 months behind bars.

He was so out there that all of that wonderful talent was flailing his arms in the water and making a big mess, Foster told Esquire. But it was in there somewhere, right? Because now he is somebody whos become disciplined almost as a way of surviving.

Foster has been famously forgiving and even defended Mel Gibson as the nicest person to work with after his racist outburst became public . While she later agreed that Downey shared the gist of their 1995 chat, Foster said she wasnt as critical as he claimed.

I love Rob, and weve continued to be friends Im so proud of him for everything that he is, always was and that he continues to be, she told HuffPost in 2020 . Hes just a wonderful man. Hes kind He has this crazy mind. Hes just an amazing person.

The cycle of forgiveness between Foster, Downey and Gibson has certainly sustained the trio for decades, as Downey told Esquire that Gibson helped him during his lengthy drug abuse and Downey famously urged his peers to forgive Gibson himself in 2011.

While any defense of Gibsons horrific tirade remains contentious to this day , Foster had no question about supporting Downey amidst his addictions, and explained Monday: I have faith in peoples ability to change if they want it, and he really wanted it.

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline .