Jodie Foster has revealed she had to undergo extensive psychological tests to play her breakthrough role in the 1976 film Taxi Driver.

The film generated controversy for the casting of the then-12-year-old Foster in the role of a child prostitute.

Speaking to OK! Magazine, the actress, 58, spoke of how she attended sessions with a UCLA psychiatrist, to ensure that she would not be emotionally scarred.

Hard-hitting: Jodie Foster has revealed she had to undergo extensive psychological tests to play her breakthrough role in the 1976 film Taxi Driver

She said: ‘People thought I was too young to play the part of a prostitute and people- lawyers that is- in the government of California, wanted to make sure I was psychologically ready. I had to do some tests.

‘For me, it’s a film which was a kind of transformation in the cinema, it was the golden age of American films, it was an arthouse film and I was very proud to be in it.

‘It was destiny, it was fate and I was very lucky.’

Backlash: The film generated controversy for the casting of then-12-year-old Foster in the role of a child prostitute.

Jodie was nominated for an Academy Award for Taxi Driver but was beaten to the accolade by Beatrice Straight.

Taxi Driver told the story of Bickle (Robert De Niro) who took a job as a cabbie and dreamed of violently cleaning up the streets of New York.

It is widely seen as one of the great American films. It is ranked as the 31st best film ever made – joint with the Godfather Part II – by the British Film Institute and the 47th best by the American Film Institute.

Hollywood blockbuster: Taxi Driver told the story of Bickle (Robert De Niro) who took a job as a cabbie and dreamed of violently cleaning up the streets of New York

In July, Jodie was honoured at the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival with a special lifetime achievement award Palme d’Or prize.

The Silence of the Lambs star has been honoured with many accolades throughout her long and prolific career, ever since starting out in the early 1970s.

Some of her early breakout performances include a small part in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn in 1974, Bugsy Malone and more recent appearances in this year’s The Mauritanian.

Congratulations: In July, Jodie was honoured at the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival with a special lifetime achievement award Palme d’Or prize (pictured)