Foster, 50, who has been a part of cinematic gems like 'Taxi Driver' and 'The Silence of the Lambs', said she was nervous to talk about her journey and life.
"I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I've never been able to air in public that I'm a little nervous about -- but maybe not as nervous as my publicist. So I'm just going to put it out there, loud and proud, right? I'm going to need your support on this. I am, uh I'm single," Foster said as the celebrity audience broke into laughter.
The actress resumed her speech again to talk about her coming out long time back.
"I already did my coming out a thousand years ago, in the Stone Age. Those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to friends and family and co-workers then gradually to everyone that knew her, everyone she actually met. But now apparently I'm told that every celebrity is to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a primetime reality show.
"In the future people will look back and remember how beautiful it once was," she added.
Foster thanked Cydney Bernard, her former longtime partner, with whom she raises sons Charles and Christopher Foster who attended the ceremony.
"There's no way I could ever stand here without acknowledging one of the deepest loves of my life: my heroic co-parent, my ex partner in love but righteous soul sister in life, my confessor, ski buddy, consiglieri, most beloved BFF of 20 years, Cydney Bernard," Foster said.
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The actress also paid an emotional tribute to her 84-year-old mother, Evelyn Almond, who suffers from dementia.
"Mom, I know you are inside those blue eyes somewhere. I love you, I love you, I love you..."
Foster ended her speech by hinting at a shift in priorities but later denied that she was referring to retirement.