Jodie Foster Not Abandoning Mel Gibson During His ‘Dark Moment’

Mel Gibson’s longtime friend and collaborator, Jodie Foster, is sticking by the actor has he wages the PR war of his life.

”[He] is the easiest, nicest person I’ve ever worked with,” Jodie told More magazine in its October issue about Mel. “The second I met him, I said, ‘I will love this man for the rest of my life’”

When asked about the actor’s recent public troubles with ex Oksana Grigorieva, Jodie – who is directing and co-stars with Mel in the upcoming movie, “The Beaver” – said she is standing by the 54-year-old big screen star.

“When you love a friend, you don’t abandon them when they are struggling,” she told the mag. “Of course, Mel is an undeniably gifted actor and director, and ‘The Beaver’ is one of his most powerful and moving performances. But more importantly, he is and has been a true and loyal friend. I hope I can help him get through this dark moment.”

The mag also spoke to Mel about his friendship with Jodie.

“We’re pretty tight. She’s a really kind and compassionate human being, and you don’t say that about too many people,” he told the mag. “Before, she was like a buddy who would stick up for you. Now that she’s a mother, she’s like a mother who would stick up for you.”

“The Beaver,” where Mel plays a depressed man who finds hope in a beaver hand puppet that he wears, has wrapped production and is currently awaiting a release date.