From leading the union charge to trying to hold the Union together, here are the Oscar-winning actress’ greatest roles to date. By Andrew Walsh Published on November 14, 2023
On March 25, 1985, Sally Field infamously exclaimed, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!” from the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and for almost six decades, audiences haven’t been able to deny that fact. Her oft-misquoted — and mocked — Oscar acceptance speech is still as true now as it was that evening when she won Best Actress for Places in the Heart.
But long before her box office and critical successes, the beloved performer found herself stuck in a creative box thanks to her early TV gigs on Gidget and The Flying Nun. Then in 1976, she had her true breakout roles in Sybil and The Girl with Something Extra, proving just how prescient the title of that short-lived sitcom was.
Fierce mamas, courageous union leaders, and runaway brides are just a few of the characters the versatile actress has brought to screens — both big and small — over the course of her acclaimed career. Read on to find out which of her many legendary turns made it onto EW’s list of Sally Field’s best movies and TV shows.
An adaptation of EW alum Michael Ausiello’s acclaimed memoir, Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, this romantic dramedy chronicles the 14-year relationship of partners Michael (Jim Parsons) and Kit (Ben Aldridge). The film starts with Kit’s death and then fills in the details of their life together, from first date to last days, with laughs and tears sprinkled throughout.
When it’s time to meet the parents, we’re introduced to Kit’s loving, supportive folks, Bob Cowan (Bill Irwin) and Marilyn (Field), and the Oscar winner brings depth to the small role of the chatty triathlete mother. In his review, EW Editor in Chief Patrick Gomez wrote, “Spoiler Alert’s delicate restraint is on full display as Field’s Marilyn is informed of her son’s diagnosis. The actress, known for her Oscar-worthy scene-chewing, goes subtle for a change with her understated yet still heartbreaking response.”
Where to watch Spoiler Alert: Amazon Prime Video
In classic Hollywood fashion, Field plays Tom Hanks’ mother in Robert Zemeckis’s Best Picture winner Forrest Gump only six years after playing his contemporary in 1988’s Punchline. She may not be in the movie for a significant portion of its runtime, but she makes an impact as Momma Gump, dishing out many of Forrest’s now iconic sayings — particularly the one about life and a box of chocolates. When (spoiler alert) she goes off to that great bus stop bench in the sky, it’s because of the down-home soul she brings to Momma that the audience feels her absence for the rest of the film.
Some might say that the key to a happy marriage is laughter, but Miranda Hillard (Field) is tired of being the butt of the joke. Fed up as the only adult in the room, she files for divorce from her unreliable voice-actor husband, Daniel (Robin Williams), and is awarded full custody of their children. Desperate to see them, he dons layers of prosthetics and disguises himself as an elderly British nanny named Euphegenia Doubtfire so they can secretly spend time together. Hijinks ensue, and Mrs. Doubtfire ironically helps them both form better relationships with their kids.
Though Miranda is in opposition to our protagonist, Field still cements her as one of the most sympathetic characters in the comedy. Her frustration with the flighty Daniel comes from an authentic place, and when the overworked single mom discovers the truth about her miraculous nanny, the horror she feels is palpable. It’s Field’s performance that keeps the now classic hit grounded.
Murphy’s Romance was the first film produced by Field’s company, Fogwood Films, and reunited the star with her Norma Rae director, Martin Ritt. The charming May-Dec. affair is one of the best romantic comedies in her filmography. When Emma (Field), a divorced horse trainer, moves back to Arizona with her 12-year-old son Jake (Corey Haim), she slowly falls for the widowed pharmacist Murphy Jones (James Garner), much to the chagrin of her deadbeat ex-husband (Brian Kerwin).
In this quiet union, the actress isn’t fighting the system or insurmountable obstacles, she’s simply falling in love, and it’s a pleasure to watch up.
