Nowadays, it’s unusual to see a celebrity without work on their résumé, particularly for well-known women who usually deal with a lot of pressure. Even at the age of 76, Sally Field has disregarded most of the “rules” that have been established. Being a woman in Hollywood is difficult. Sally Field performs admirably in films like Forrest Gump and Steel Magnolias. Some of our greatest work from her is not her acting onscreen, but rather her personal method for overcoming ageism in her career. Sally Field, who was born in Pasadena, California, in 1946, first became well-known through television shows like Gidget and The Flying. The now-76-year-old actress and activist honed her acting skills and transitioned into the film industry shortly after beginning her television career. In addition to Smokey and the Bandit, Norma Rae, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Forrest Gump, she starred in a number of other well-known movies. In February 2023, the actress was presented with the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. She graciously accepted the honor and spoke about her distinguished and accomplished career. Two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Film Award nominations, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two SAG Awards, including her most recent Life Achievement Award, and a Tony nomination were among the honors Field had previously received in her career. Field, a passionate activist, is frequently referred to as ageless and gifted. Her speech for the SAG Achievement Award was modest and helpful to outline her nuanced acting background.
“Offstage I felt shy and careful and hidden. But onstage I never knew what I would say or do. I would surprise myself. I wasn’t looking for the applause, or attention, even though that’s nice,” she confessed. “Acting, to me, has always been about finding those few, precious moments when I feel totally, utterly, sometimes dangerously alive. The task has always been to find a way to get to that.” Field looked flawlessly lovely and graceful while wearing a stunning black dress and her naturally gray hair. “They opened and revealed parts of myself I would not have known otherwise. I’ve worked my whole life. In all of these almost 60 years, there is not a day that I don’t feel quietly thrilled to call myself an actor,” she explained.
In 2016, Field, who was playing the aging eccentric woman Doris Miller, spoke with NPR about the role: “I’m an old woman, 70 is old, and that’s okay. I’ve gathered strength behind my years, I owned them, I’ve earned them, I’ve deserved them, I have a right to have them. And I don’t like my neck, I don’t like a lot of things but it’s okay.” Field has already spoken in an interview on the concept of aging organically. In an interview with Good Housekeeping in 2009, she discussed how, throughout her career, she overcame the impulse to complete work: “I see myself on TV and I say, ‘Oh, I wish that weren’t happening to my neck. And your face is falling down, and your eyes are so puffy.’ But then I see some of the women (who have had plastic surgery) who I thought when they were younger were so beautiful. Now I think, Oh, dear, don’t do that! And it seems to be terribly disrespectful to who they are now.” Sally Field has maintained her authenticity, which is why we find her to be attractive at any age. What do you think of her decision to maintain her natural hair?
