Jodie Foster sparked concern among fans after being seen using a cane during a rare public outing in New York City this week.
The 63-year-old Oscar winner appeared focused as she made her way through Manhattan carrying shopping bags while relying on a cane for support. Dressed casually in a denim shirt and olive-colored trousers, the The Silence of the Lambs star also wore a crossbody messenger bag as she walked beside her wife, Alexandra Hedison.
Hedison, whom Foster married in 2014, assisted with the couple’s purchases as they exited a flower shop together. Representatives for Foster have not publicly commented on the actress’s health.
This is not the first time Foster’s physical condition has drawn attention. At the 2018 Academy Awards, she appeared onstage with Jennifer Lawrence while using crutches. Although Foster jokingly blamed Meryl Streep for the injury during the broadcast, her publicist later confirmed she had hurt herself in a skiing accident and eventually recovered fully.
The latest sighting comes only months after Foster attended the 2025 Golden Globe Awards with her 24-year-old son Kit. During the ceremony, she won Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Film for her acclaimed performance in True Detective: Night Country.
Foster is also mother to son Charlie, 26, whom she shares with former partner Cydney Bernard. The actress has often spoken about wanting to provide her children with a grounded upbringing in Los Angeles after experiencing an unconventional childhood herself due to early fame.
Earlier this year, Foster reflected on surviving Hollywood as a child actor during interviews marking the 50th anniversary of Taxi Driver, the movie that earned her first Oscar nomination at age 12. She explained that achieving professional success at such a young age may have protected her from some of the abuse many young performers face in the industry.
Foster said she eventually realized her early acclaim gave her a degree of influence and authority that made powerful people hesitant to exploit her. She also credited her demanding career with helping her develop emotional resilience and discipline over the years.
Despite the recent concern over her mobility, Foster remains professionally active. In her latest project, A Private Life, she received praise for portraying psychiatrist Lilian Steiner and delivering much of her performance in fluent French.
