Sara Foster Bio
Sara Foster (born February 5, 1981) is an American actress, producer, and socialite who has built a versatile career across film, television, podcasts, and brand work. She is the daughter of acclaimed record producer David Foster and former model Rebecca Dyer, and the elder sister of producer and writer Erin Foster. Sara Foster first gained on-screen attention in the early 2000s and later expanded into producing and digital media, including the creation of the VH1 satire Barely Famous with her sister in 2015. In recent years she has continued to act while developing larger producing projects, including an overall deal with 20th Television.
Over more than two decades in entertainment, Sara Foster has balanced acting roles with creative producing, brand partnerships, and hosting duties. Her work spans independent features, network dramas, and streaming comedies, giving her a broad footprint in both Hollywood and the wider pop culture landscape.
Early Life and Background
Sara Michael Foster was born on February 5, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, to record producer David Foster and former model Rebecca Dyer. Her father is one of the most decorated music producers in pop history, while her mother had a successful modeling career before becoming a homemaker and, later, a real estate professional. Sara grew up alongside sisters Erin Foster and Jordan Foster, in a household connected to the music and entertainment industries.
After Sara Foster’s parents divorced in 1986, when she was five years old, she and her sisters were raised primarily by their mother in Los Angeles. Sara and her sisters have spoken publicly about the contrast between their public image as privileged children of a famous producer and their more grounded day-to-day reality, noting that they did not have a trust fund and worked from a young age. These formative experiences shaped her perspective on celebrity, work ethic, and family.
Growing up in Los Angeles placed Sara Foster close to the entertainment industry, and she developed an early interest in acting and pop culture. Her family’s connection to the music world, including ties to artists and producers, gave her an insider’s view of how show business operates, which would later inform her own career choices.
Path to Acting
Sara Foster began her professional career in entertainment in 1999, initially taking on small on-camera roles, hosting work, and music video appearances. In 2002 she briefly hosted an MTV spin-off of the entertainment news program Entertainment Tonight, gaining early experience in front of the camera. She also appeared in music videos for the Backstreet Boys’ “Shape of My Heart” and The Wondergirls’ “Drop That Baby,” further establishing her presence in pop culture at the start of the 2000s.
She transitioned into scripted acting with her film debut in the 2004 action comedy D.E.B.S., the same year she appeared in the feature The Big Bounce. Early television guest roles on series including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Crossing Jordan, and Entourage helped her build a résumé and develop relationships with casting directors and producers. These initial steps laid the groundwork for a steady flow of work across film and television throughout the 2000s.
By the late 2000s, Sara Foster was balancing film projects with recurring television work, including a recurring role as Jen Clark on the CW drama 90210, beginning in 2009. She also appeared in the independent film Psych 9, expanding her range across genres from teen drama to thriller.
Sara Foster Career
Early Career (1999–2004)
Sara Foster’s earliest on-camera work included music videos and entertainment hosting in the early 2000s. She made her feature film debut in the 2004 action comedy D.E.B.S. and that same year appeared in The Big Bounce, a crime comedy starring Owen Wilson. During this period she also picked up guest spots on network series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Crossing Jordan, and a recurring turn on HBO’s Entourage.
These early credits established her as a recognizable face in Hollywood and gave her a mix of film and television experience. By the end of 2004 she had already built a foundation that would support more substantial roles in the years ahead.
Breakthrough (2008–2015)
Sara Foster’s breakthrough period came with her recurring role on the CW’s 90210, starting in 2009, where she played Jen Clark and gained a wider audience among prime-time viewers. She also starred in the independent thriller Psych 9 that year, demonstrating her range across formats and genres.
In 2015, Sara Foster and her sister Erin Foster created, produced, and starred in the VH1 mockumentary satire Barely Famous, a two-season series that parodied reality television culture. The show was a notable creative step for Sara, marking her emergence as both a performer and a creator with a distinct comedic voice.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among Sara Foster’s signature works are her starring turn in D.E.B.S., her role in The Big Bounce, and her recurring arc on 90210. Her most distinctive career milestone, however, is the creation of Barely Famous, which positioned her as a multi-hyphenate talent. Beyond television, she served as co-creative head of the dating and networking app Bumble from 2017 to 2020, and since 2021 she has co-hosted The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster, expanding her reach into audio media.
In 2024, Sara Foster and Erin Foster co-produced the Netflix romantic comedy series Nobody Wants This, inspired by Erin Foster’s real-life relationship. The success of the series led to Sara Foster signing an overall deal with 20th Television, signaling a new chapter focused on long-form development and producing.
Sara Foster Award Nominations
Publicly verified award nomination totals for Sara Foster are limited, and no comprehensive list of nominations across her career has been confirmed in the available sources. As a result, a detailed summary of nominations is not provided here.
Sara Foster Awards Won
Verified records of major competitive award wins for Sara Foster are not documented in the available sources. While she has received industry recognition for her producing and brand work, specific award wins cannot be confirmed at this time, and no award totals are listed.
Sara Foster Family
Sara Foster is the daughter of record producer David Foster and former model Rebecca Dyer. Her father is one of the most decorated producers in popular music, while her mother built a career in modeling before moving into other ventures. Sara is the older sister of producer and writer Erin Foster, with whom she frequently collaborates, and she also has a half-sister, singer-songwriter Amy S. Foster, from her father’s later marriage.
Sara Foster also has a younger sister, Jordan Foster, who has worked as a fashion stylist. The close working relationship between Sara and Erin Foster has become a defining feature of her professional life, from the VH1 series Barely Famous to the podcast and their producing partnership on Netflix projects.
Personal Life
In 2006, Sara Foster began a long-term relationship with German professional tennis player Tommy Haas. The couple share two daughters: Valentina Evelyn, born in 2010, and Josephine Lena, born in 2015. After 18 years together, Sara Foster and Tommy Haas announced their separation in August 2024.
Sara Foster has been open about her family background and the lessons she learned growing up in a blended household following her parents’ divorce. She continues to balance her acting and producing career with motherhood, brand work, and her ongoing podcast and television projects.