- 2008: Portrayed a reclusive writer, opposite Abigail Breslin in "Nim's Island"
- 2007: Starred as a victim of urban violence in "The Brave One"; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress
- 2006: Co-starred with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen in the Spike Lee directed hostage drama "Inside Man"
- 2004: Acted in the French-language film "A Very Long Engagement"; spoke French fluently throughout
- 2002: Replaced an injured Nicole Kidman in the David Fincher thriller "Panic Room"
- 2002: Produced (also co-starred) "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" starring Emile Hirsch, Kieran Culkin and Jena Malone
- 2001: Closed Egg Productions (November)
- 1998: Debut as TV producer, "The Baby Dance"; earned an Emmy nomination
- 1997: Starred alongside Matthew McConaughey in her first sci-fi movie "Contact"
- 1995: Directed second feature, "Home for the Holidays" starring Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr
- 1994: Produced (also starred) first production under Egg Pictures banner, "Nell"
- 1992: Formed a three-year production deal under her Egg Pictures with Polygram Filmed Entertainment; under terms of deal, Foster gained the power to greenlight her own projects
- 1992: Earned second Oscar for her role as FBI agent Clarice Starling in "The Silence of the Lambs"
- 1991: Made feature directorial debut (also starred), "Little Man Tate"
- 1988: Oscar winning role as rape victim, Sarah Tobias in "The Accused"
- 1986: Co-produced first feature, "Mesmerized"
- 1980: Worked as summer intern for Esquire magazine
- 1976: Breakthrough role as Iris, an underage prostitute in Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver"
- 1972: Feature film acting debut, "Napoleon and Samantha"
- 1969: Made TV acting debut on the sitcom, "Mayberry R.F.D."
- 1969: Played recurring character, Joey Kelley on the ABC sitcom, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"
- 1966: Professional acting debut in a Coppertone suntan oil commercial
- 1965: Began reading at age three




