Jodie Foster — Her Showbiz Years Spent In The Closet

Jodie Foster made headlines when she finally came out as a lesbian at the 2013 Golden Globes — but before the big revelation, the Oscar winner had struggled to pass as straight!

Jodie was first spared Hollywood gossip after she had become the obsession of psychotic John Hinckley, who tried to murder Ronald Reagan to show his love. But as the former child star found new fame, Jodie started trying to cover up her personal life. After winning an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988's "The Accused," she suddenly declared: "I really believe in marriage!"

The actress declared in 1991 that she was looking for a husband and kids — coyly adding: "Not necessarily in that order." She also insisted: "I'm sure I'll marry one day. I'll get divorced, too. You've got to do it once. Everybody does...I'd definitely like to be married and have children when I'm at least 30. That's less than two years away, and the clock is ticking!"

Jodie had even brought along a date to the Academy Awards. She "broke up" with British actor Julian Sands shortly after the ceremony. But immediately after the awards, Jodie and Sands showed up at several parties together — including the high-profile Governor's Ball at the Shrine Auditorium. One insider noted that "Jodie and Julian looked radiant together."

Rumors about Jodie persisted, however. There were reports of a lesbian affair between Jodie and her costar Kelly McGillis during the filming of "The Accused." The film's director, Jonathan Kaplan, insisted: "Whatever you heard, it's not true. It's so untrue that it's insulting!"

Jodie also tried to not get caught in lies while pursuing mainstream romantic roles. When asked in 1991 if there was a "significant romance" in her life, Jodie played it cool. "No," she said. "But I wouldn't talk about it if there was."

Meanwhile, Jodie — who had also dated architect Marco Pasanella during the '80s — kept trying to avoid similar rumors about her sex life. But the actress' preferences became more of an open secret after a bombshell report in The National ENQUIRER, where top stewardesses spilled the dirt on plenty of celebrity passengers.

One flight attendant dished about seeing Jodie luring a fellow actress into a private stateroom. "They pulled the curtain," said the stewardess. "It was obvious they were getting to know each other very well...at one point, Jodie was feeding a chocolate chip cookie to her new companion. We were very surprised by their behavior."

Jodie also found her sexuality in the spotlight after she signed on for "Silence of the Lambs." The film featured a psychotic killer attempting to transform into a woman. The controversial character outraged gay rights activists, who got personal in condemning the star.

Michaelangelo Signorile, a columnist for the gay magazine Outweek, wrote: "Jodie Foster, time's up! If lesbianism is too sacred, too private, too infringing of your damned rights for you to discuss publicly, then the least you can do is refrain from making movies that insult this community!"

After the Outweek column, Jodie sent out spokesperson Robin Little to say: "We never comment on those kinds of stories." But as the years passed, no comment was necessary. Jodie became more comfortable with being out with her female companions while raising a family.

The busy actress and director even proved her belief in marriage by exchanging vows with Alexandra Hedison in 2014. Some activists remain suspicious about Jodie, though — and still complain that she never used the words "gay" or "lesbian" in her Golden Globes speech.