Sally Field Through the Years: Iconic Images That Capture Her Enduring Legacy
In the Mid-1970s, Sally Field Was Changing Her Public Image and Her Personal Life
Sally Field may be petite in stature, but her impact on the silver screen is larger than life. From her early days as the lovable Gidget to her unforgettable performances in Norma Rae and Steel Magnolias, Field has charmed audiences with her versatility and strength. Join us as we journey through the captivating life and career of this Hollywood icon, celebrating her resilience, talent, and unwavering spirit. Get ready to be inspired by the indomitable force that is Sally Field.
Field was only 19-years-old when she started dating Steven Craig, a former high school classmate. The couple married in 1968 and Field quickly became pregnant with her first child. She was filming The Flying Nun at this time which would make for an interesting plot twist if the writers tried to write Field’s pregnancy into the storyline, unfortunately there was no immaculate conception Field’s convent.
Her big, billowy nun habit kept a lot of things secret, unfortunately the series was cancelled before she got too far along in her pregnancy with her son, Peter Craig. Whether it was osmosis or the family business, Craig became a writer. His novels include The Martini Shot and Blood Father, and he adapted the screenplays for The Hunger Games.
In 1979, Sally Field made her way to the sunny shores of the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of her film Norma Rae. While the film may not have taken home the coveted Palme d’Or, Sally was the real star of the show. She walked away with the prize for Best Actress at the festival, sending shockwaves through the industry and solidifying her place as one of Hollywood’s leading ladies.
This was only the beginning of her award run for the film, as she later went on to win the Academy Award for her standout performance as the titular character. It was a triumphant moment for Sally, who had already proven her versatility as an actress but now was receiving recognition for her powerful dramatic work. While speaking about the film’s response at the festival she said:
Cannes was an enormous experience for me, a high point in my life. When the film was over, the lights came on, big searchlights were on Marty Ritt and myself, we stood up, they began to applaud and cheer in a way that Americans don’t do. They clap and they hoot, but this was the legendary ‘bravo’ that just got louder and louder. It went on for about 10 or 15 minutes and I am not exaggerating, so I started to cry, because when I was a child I used to lay in bed and dream about becoming Miss America or being elected President of the United States, and I would stand in front of a mirror literally pretending I was having a standing ovation. I had my act all rehearsed of how I was going to respond, but when it really happened to me the first time in my life, I started to cry and I was shaking all over, and the harder I cried, the louder they clapped, so it was a very emotional moment.
A dark comedy, the 1978 film The End, starred boyfriend-girlfriend Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, along with Dom LeLuise, Robby Benson, Kristy Mc Nichol, Carl Reiner, Norman Fell, Joanne Woodward, and Myrna Loy. Field posed for a series of publicity photos ahead of the release of this film wearing a jersey with the number 22 on it. That was Burt Reynolds’ jersey number back when he played football. Many of the pics from this photoshoot crossed the line to cheesecake in nature but Burt Reynolds probably didn’t mind.
At the 57th Academy Awards presentation, Sally Field’s name was announced as the winner of the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Place in the Heart. Even if you don’t remember the film, Field’s enthusiastic acceptance speech made for a truly memorable pop culture moment. After thanking a few people, Field references her first Academy Award, saying:
In 1977, Sally Field starred in the heartwarming film Heroes alongside legends Henry Winkler and Harrison Ford. She played Carol, a woman who was initially unsure of Winkler’s mission to track down the men from his former unit during the Vietnam War. However, she eventually warmed up to the idea and joined him on a wild cross-country adventure. This film was a true showcase of Sally’s acting range, as she expertly navigated the emotional ups and downs of Carol’s journey. From quest
