Terry Gross

Was this on a shoot?

Wow, he picked you up like in his mouth?

To get you help or to run away from the lion?

And then I guess- Wait, wait, are you saying you didn't know you were in the lion's mouth?

I think your mother sometimes exercised like such good judgment in terms of choosing roles for you.

Though some people might find that judgment very questionable when it comes to Taxi Driver.

But that's one of my very favorite films.

It's such a deep psychological study of the characters in it.

Did she approve of feminism once it, you know, started really blossoming?

So I want to focus a little on Taxi Driver since next month marks the 50th anniversary of its release.

So let's start with a clip.

Amazing.

Yeah.

And this is an example of your mother being brilliant in accepting the part for you and of being controversial because she accepted the part for you.

Right.

Because you play a 12-year-old, and you were 12 when you shot this.

And you are what would then be called a prostitute and today a sex worker who has a pimp played by Harvey Keitel.

And Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, the taxi driver.

And De Niro sees this, and so he wants to buy some time with you to save you.

He kind of has a savior complex.