Internet hails ‘badass’ Jodie Foster as she recalls how a lion ‘shook’ her in his mouth on 'Napoleon and Samantha' set

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Jodie Foster is one of Hollywood's most legendary and decorated actresses, revered for her decades-spanning filmography of critically acclaimed roles.

But few fans are aware that the two-time Oscar winner nearly had her acting career cut tragically short at age nine due to a terrifying real-life lion attack while filming for the 1972 film 'Napoleon and Samantha'.

Recently, Foster stunned celebrity guests and viewers alike when she recalled the harrowing incident during an appearance on 'The Graham Norton Show', as per PEOPLE.

Jodie Foster attacked by lion on 'Napoleon and Samantha' set

Appearing recently on 'The Graham Norton Show', Foster regaled guests with the incredible tale. While shooting scenes involving domesticated lions for the 1972 film, Foster was suddenly attacked by one of the big cats after finishing a take.

"I was going up the hill and all I remember is I remember seeing his mane come around and then he picked me up sideways, shook me in his mouth and turned me around," Foster recalled.

"Every single person on the crew was running in the opposite direction and I’m like sideways watching everybody — and they took their equipment, too."

Yet somehow, despite being fully in the clutches of the lion’s jaws, the Oscar-winning actress escaped with relatively minor injuries. Foster remembers the experience as oddly calm, watching the chaos unfold around her while hanging limp in the lion’s mouth.

"I’m watching everybody leave going, 'What’s happening,'" she said on the show.

Luckily, the extensive training the movie lions underwent saved Foster’s life.

"The trainer said, 'Drop it' and because the lion was so well-trained, he opened his mouth and dropped me down and I went running," Foster explained.

But the frightening incident wasn’t over yet. Showing signs of predatory instinct, the lion continued to stalk Foster even after releasing her.

"He came after me, put one paw on me and then just waited like 'I got her'," Foster said, somehow managing to laugh about the incident.

Internet reacts to Jodie Foster's harrowing encounter with a lion

Following the revelation of Foster's harrowing encounter with a lion on 'The Graham Norton Show', the Internet was abuzz with reactions from astonished fans. One YouTube user humorously remarked, "Somewhere, there is footage of 9-year-old Jodie Foster getting murked by a lion, almost."

Expressing relief, another user exclaimed, "Holy... 9 yrs old with that experience, glad she wasn't that traumatized.. sheesh."

A third user commended Foster's storytelling skills, stating, "Jodie Foster is an amazing raconteur; the humor and wit with which she narrated such a traumatizing childhood event is exceptional."

Highlighting Foster's already impressive persona, someone remarked, "As if Jodie couldn't be any more badass." 

Describing the tale as both cool and terrifying, a fifth user shared, "This was one of the coolest/terrifying stories ever told on that couch, and she managed to make it hilarious and light-hearted. She truly is iconic."

Summing up the sentiment, a sixth user simply declared, "Jodie is so cool. Love her."

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