For several decades, Sally Field has been a constant, not only on American television and movies, but on the stage as well. Born in California after World War II, Field found her first appearance on television in 1965 in an initially unsuccessful series called Gidget, but quickly found her break when she was cast in the series The Flying Nun. She continued to appear on other television series throughout the 70s and gained prominence in the film world when she appeared in the 1976 film Sybil. A year later, she starred in one of the most successful movies of 1977: Smokey and the Bandit.
Finally breaking free for the first time of the typecasting that had plagued her early career, Field was destined for greatness after the 70s. Although she took a break from television for some time, she ended up returning in the 2000s, showing why she belongs on the small screen. In the film world, Fields snagged two Academy Awards for her appearances in Norma Rae and Places of the Heart. Marvel fans may even recognize her as Aunt May in Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man. That said, these are Sally Field’s best works so far.
12 80 for Brady
Released in 2023, 80 for Brady is about a group of older women’s shared passion for the football star Tom Brady. Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin, and Sally Field all-star as a bunch of elderly women whose dreams consist of seeing Brady at the Super Bowl just once before he retires. They originally became fans in 2001, but when one of the women decided they should go to the Super Bowl to celebrate their friendship and lives, it became a more legitimate idea. Suddenly they’re all planning to go to the Super Bowl in 2017, leading to a hilarious and heartfelt set of circumstances in the process.
11 The Flying Nun
The Flying Nun first appeared on American television in 1967, and ran for several seasons, ultimately ending with 82 episodes. It was based on a book by the author Tere Rios. A fantasy sitcom, it tells the story of a community of nuns in Puerto Rico that has an anomaly happening with one of them. When the wind drifts across her cornette one day, she discovers she is now suddenly able to fly. She decides she’s going to use this newfound power in the name of good, as the convent’s mission is to teach underprivileged children in the area and serve a poor community.
10 Mrs. Doubtfire
Chris Columbus’ Mrs. Doubtfire came out in 1993, and it was adapted from a novel titled Alias Madame Doubtfire by Randi Mayem Singer. Set in San Francisco, a freelance voice actor finds himself in a bad situation after quitting his job. His wife decides to divorce him and is granted custody because how he is unable to have a stable income and living situation for the children. When his ex-wife puts out an ad looking for a housekeeper, he decides to be dishonest and pretend to be a British nanny to get the job. Along the way, the entire family learns new things.
9 ER
The television series ER ran for 15 years, making it one of the longest American medical dramas in American television history. It ran for a total of 331 episodes and 15 seasons, and was immensely popular during its run. Field appeared on the series for six years, from 2000 to 2006. Set in an emergency room in Chicago, the department’s staff has to deal with a wide range of crises across every episode. With professional and personal problems being brought to the table, there’s never a dull moment in ER.
8 Lincoln
Steven Spielberg came out with Lincoln in 2012, and it was one of the best movies of his career. It also marks one of the last film appearances of actor Daniel Day-Lewis before announcing his retirement. Day-Lewis portrays American President Abraham Lincoln, who, in the late-1800s, was the face of abolishing slavery in the United States and guiding the country through the Civil War. Field portrays his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. The movie was highly praised for its acting and production and even won Day-Lewis an Academy Award for Best Actor. The script was written by Tony Kushner.
7 Sybil
Sybil came out on American television in 1976, and clocks in at over three hours in its run time. Field portrays Sybil, a teacher who has just had a mental breakdown in front of her students. Although it wasn’t a big one, she still is sent to a psychiatrist, who decides there’s a deeper problem at hand here. The psychiatrist tries to dig deeper into Sybil’s trauma and past, and Sybil decides to ask her father about it when he comes into town. As it turns out, she had these same problems as a child, but her parents deny that there is any help she needs. But as the problem worsens, it becomes clear Sybil needs help.
6 Places in the Heart
Robert Benton’s Places in the Heart was a hit when it was released in 1984, and it even won him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival. Field portrays Edna, who, during the Great Depression, lives in Texas. Her husband has been accidentally killed by a Black teenager, who is then killed in retaliation. Edna must pick up the pieces left behind by her husband’s death and decides to keep the farm. She hires a Black worker to help her out, and that marks a new beginning for her.
5 The Amazing Spider-Man
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone’s The Amazing Spider-Man created a new addition to the lore of the Spider-Man universe. The film, which came out in 2012, finds Peter Parker in a new situation after getting bit by a radioactive spider after sneaking around in a company that specializes in cross genetics. A villain named the Lizard is increasingly on the loose, as his powers were also created by the company’s research. At the same time, Peter must grapple with his budding romance with Gwen, the daughter of a police captain. Sally Field appears in the movie as the beloved character of Aunt May.
4 Brothers & Sisters
An ABC family drama, Brothers & Sisters ran for five years before concluding in 2011. The show is about the Walker Family, whose patriarch, William, has just died. The family business is in shambles at his death, and now a plethora of personal issues are being brought to the table. The wife (Field) must deal with the fact her husband wasn’t faithful to her during their marriage, and their kids are struggling with their own lives. Things get more complicated when what’s going to happen to the business now has to factor into all of their plans, leading to a lot of fights and wine.
3 Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is one of the most recognizable movies for an entire generation since its release in 1994. Tom Hanks portrays Forrest Gump, who, at the beginning of the movie, is an older man who narrates his life to strangers whether they want to listen or not. Born with a physical condition and a low IQ, Gump may be a disabled person, but he still should be seen as a regular human being. Despite the circumstances he was born with, Gump discovers he has a talent for running, and ends up with a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, starting the beginning of an incredible set of life stories.
2 Norma Rae
1979’s Norma Rae stars Field in the lead role, and it was one of her earliest prominent film roles. The film was based on the story of Crystal Lee Sutton, who was a union organizer from North Carolina. Norma Rae is a factory worker from North Carolina with little education, and when her fellow workers and she were exposed to unsafe working conditions, it’s time for a change. The textile factory they work at is going to be a battlefield for union rights and equality, with Norma Rae leading that fight. Field won an Academy Award for her performance.
1 Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias is a film adaptation of a play and featured Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts, among others. Set in the deep South, in Louisiana, a beauty school graduate moves to a new area to work in a beauty salon. As another woman prepares for her daughter’s wedding, the daughter has an attack due to diabetes. This sets the scene for the rest of the movie, as when she ends up passing away due to diabetes, the women of the community band together.
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