You have to wonder about Jodie Foster in 'Maverick.' She portrays a hustling Southern charmer who can play poker and drink gin with the boys. But is she a lady or just a poker player with spirit and a wicked eye?
When I first watched 'Maverick' in Phoenix, AZ., I really enjoyed the movie. My actor friend Dick Alexander, with whom I was sharing a house, played a maverick in the film which was made at Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Dick enjoyed the cast and was impressed by Jodie who drank teqhila, smoked cigars, and played poker between takes. He described her as one of the most natural people he had ever met.
We both agreed that 'Nell,' which Jodie directed, was a superb piece of film art. And who coould forget the stunning performance she made in 'Silence of the Lambs'?
The poker plot in 'Maverick' has Mel Gibson and James Garner playing father-and-son. They both become involved with Jodie Foster, an on-the-road gambling hustler, as they wend their way to a major poker tournament on a riverboat docked in the Colorado River.
Jodie was born Alicia Christian 'Jodie' Foster in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 1962, whichmakes her 54 years old.
She made her debut as an actress in 'Mayberry R.F.D.' and appeared in several Disney films before her career took off.
Never afraid of proclaiming her rarity, she played a teenage prostitute in 'Taxi Driver.' Later she would revealed to the world that she is a lesbian and an atheist.
But she found a clicking with Mel Gibson, a man with strong Christian beliefs. They acted well together in romantic as well as cheeky gambling scenes. She was also believable as a girl who could switch her charms from father to son without a blink.
Jodie grew up as the daughter of a wealthy banker. Her mother taught her to read when she was three years old.
She is fluent in French and has actually made some foreign films with sub-titles. She understands Italian and Spanish, but can speak neither.
Jodie Foster is an actress with many talents. She may not be a lady in the exact description of the word, but she is a colorful character straight out of life.
