Jodie Foster has publicly confirmed she is a lesbian.

The Hollywood star paid tribute to "my beautiful Cydney" as she accepted an award from entertainment magazine the Hollywood Reporter at Los Angeles' Beverly Hills Hotel last week, the first time she has made reference to her relationship with film producer Cydney Bernard, her reported girlfriend of15 years.

Picking up the prize as the guest of honour at the magazine's Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast last Tuesday (04.12.07), Jodie said: "I would like to thank my beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss."

It has long been rumoured that Foster is gay, but the 'Silence of the Lambs' star has always refused to discuss her sexuality.

During her speech at the annual event, the two-time Oscar winner also revealed she "doesn't have a clue what she's doing".

She said: "I feel fragile, unsure, struggling to figure it all out."I don't feel powerful, I feel like I haven't got a clue what I'd doing."

The 45-year-old actress added: "Maybe that's the secret of my success, but you can't work in this industry for 42 years without being as nutty as a fruitcake."

Jodie has two sons - Charles, nine and Kit, six - but has always refused to talk about their father.