Meg Foster’s Path from Stage Training to Television Setbacks and Film Success
Meg Foster built a career marked by early stage work, notable television roles in the 1970s and 1980s, and a high-profile casting change that temporarily disrupted her momentum. Born on May 10, 1948, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and raised in Rowayton, Connecticut, as one of five siblings, she developed an interest in the arts from a young age. She trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City under Sanford Meisner. Her early stage credits included roles such as Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer, Feeney Evans in Bernard Shaw’s The Shewing Up of Blanco Posnet, and The Blonde in Between Two Thieves.
Foster made her screen debut in 1969 with an appearance in NET Playhouse. She went on to guest roles on popular 1970s series including Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Hawaii Five-O. In 1979, she portrayed Hester Prynne in the television miniseries The Scarlet Letter. In a 1979 interview, she reflected on the period leading up to that role, stating, “I couldn’t get a job. I kept on praying, ‘Oh, God, I need some creative nourishment.’ I didn’t want to take just any part. I was terribly frightened.” She also spoke about personal insecurities, saying, “I tend to get insecure about my looks,” and expressing a desire to be four inches taller while noting she felt ten pounds overweight. She added, “I am the only Meg. I have something different to offer.”
Casting Change on Cagney & Lacey and Its Impact
Foster’s breakthrough came when she was cast as Detective Christine Cagney in the CBS series Cagney & Lacey, stepping in after Loretta Swit left the role following the pilot. The show featured strong female leads and focused on two police detectives. CBS later replaced her with Sharon Gless while Tyne Daly continued as Mary Beth Lacey. No initial official explanation was given for the change, leading to speculation and rumors that she had been difficult on set. Friends described her reaction as feeling like she had been “hit by a truck.” One report noted, “Until the news spread, she was an in-demand actress. But there was no official announcement of why she was fired, so some people jumped to some pretty wild conclusions.” The network later stated the decision was made to “give the show a better balance.” Following the clarification, Foster received new offers and appeared in the TV movie Desperate Intruder with Nick Mancuso and Claude Akins.
Her striking blue eyes drew significant attention throughout her career. Mademoiselle magazine called them “the eyes of ‘79.” Some producers reportedly asked her to wear contact lenses because they found her eyes distracting. Foster commented, “I’m not aware that my eyes are so distinctive. I don’t look at my eyes, I see through them.”
After leaving Cagney & Lacey, Foster shifted focus to film. In 1987, she played Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe. In 1988, she appeared as Holly in the satirical science fiction film They Live. She also took roles in Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy and Blind Fury in 1989, both featuring Terry O’Quinn. During the 1990s, she guest-starred on series including Quantum Leap, ER, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Murder, She Wrote, and Sliders.
Personal Life and Later Career
Foster was previously married to actor Stephen McHattie, and the couple lived in suburban Los Angeles with their son Christopher. In an interview, she described her home life in Topanga Canyon, noting that she cooked dinner every night and once maintained a garden where they grew strawberries. She shared a zucchini quiche recipe from her older sister Gray, who lived near Seattle. Reflecting on acting, she said, “More than anything, you have to be careful about yourself. The most important thing is to keep a healthy perspective about your life and craft. Otherwise, your values will fly right out the window.” Speaking about motherhood when Christopher was seven, she recalled telling him she sometimes had bad days as a mother, to which he replied, “Nobody’s perfect, Mommy.”
Her on-screen appearances became less frequent between 1999 and 2011. Since 2011, Foster has continued to take on roles in film and television. Fans have praised her natural appearance in her seventies, with comments such as “No facelift and in her seventies, truly a breathtaking beauty” and admiration for her eyes, including “Meg Foster has such amazing eyes!” and “Her eyes are so unreal.” Others noted her down-to-earth personality, describing her as “really down to earth” for a Hollywood actress.
Meg Foster’s career reflects a transition from stage training and television guest work to a prominent series role, a public casting change, and subsequent film and television appearances, all while maintaining a grounded approach to her personal life and craft.
