Sally Field

Biography

Sally Field is an American actress who worked first in television before becoming a leading dramatic film actress. She gained stardom in the 1960s sitcoms Gidget and The Flying Nun, then won an Emmy for the 1976 television film Sybil. Her film breakthrough was Norma Rae (1979), for which she took the Academy Award for Best Actress, and a second Best Actress Oscar followed for Places in the Heart (1984). Lincoln (2012) earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards. Among her other films are Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Absence of Malice (1981), Steel Magnolias (1989), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). She won further Emmys for ER and Brothers & Sisters, and received a Tony nomination for the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie. In 2023 she was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

79years old

Turns 80 on November 6in 19 days

Born November 6, 1946Pasadena
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Sally Margaret Field (birth name)Also credited as Sally Margaret Field Mahoney

Movie Career

Films: 40
Career span: 64 years1962 to 2026

Genres

Comedy63%, 25 films
Drama55%, 22 films
Romance28%, 11 films
Adventure23%, 9 films
Action15%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Early training
Sally Field studied at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg after her sitcom was canceled, and he became her mentor, helping her shed her television image.
A role that slipped away
Field was cast as Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters as a late replacement after Betty Buckley played the role in the pilot and producers took the character in another direction.
A first
Field's Emmy win for Remarkably Bright Creatures at age 79 made her the oldest person to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
First role
Field began her television career playing a boy-crazy surfer girl on the sitcom Gidget. The show was canceled after one season, but summer reruns drew respectable ratings and made it a belated success.
Beyond film
Field recorded an album and several singles during her time on The Flying Nun, including Star of The Flying Nun in 1967.

Sally Field movies on Netflix

Remarkably Bright Creatures2026IMDb rating 7.6as Tova Sullivan
80 for Brady2023IMDb rating 5.9as Betty
Spoiler Alert2022IMDb rating 7.4as Marilyn
Little Evil2017IMDb rating 5.7as Miss Shaylock
Hello, My Name Is Doris2015IMDb rating 6.6as Doris
The Amazing Spider-Man 22014IMDb rating 6.6as Aunt May
Lincoln2012IMDb rating 7.3as Mary Todd Lincoln
The Amazing Spider-Man2012IMDb rating 7.0as Aunt May
The Desert of Forbidden Art2010IMDb rating 7.5
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning2008IMDb rating 6.1as Marina Del Ray (voice)
Two Weeks2006IMDb rating 6.4as Anita Bergman
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde2003IMDb rating 4.8as Rep. Victoria Rudd
Say It Isn't So2001IMDb rating 5.0as Valdine Wingfield
Where the Heart Is2000IMDb rating 6.7as Mama Lil
Eye for an Eye1996IMDb rating 6.2as Karen McCann
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco1996IMDb rating 5.9as Sassy (voice)
Forrest Gump1994IMDb rating 8.8as Mrs. Gump
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey1993IMDb rating 7.0as Sassy (voice)
Mrs. Doubtfire1993IMDb rating 7.1as Miranda Hillard
Not Without My Daughter1991IMDb rating 6.6as Betty Mahmoody
Soapdish1991IMDb rating 6.6as Celeste Talbert / Maggie
Steel Magnolias1989IMDb rating 7.3as M'Lynn Eatenton
Punchline1988IMDb rating 5.9as Lilah Krytsick
Surrender1987IMDb rating 5.4as Daisy Morgan
Murphy's Romance1985IMDb rating 7.0as Emma Moriarity
Places in the Heart1984IMDb rating 7.4as Edna Spalding
Kiss Me Goodbye1982IMDb rating 6.0as Kay
Absence of Malice1981IMDb rating 6.9as Megan
Back Roads1981IMDb rating 5.7as Amy Post
Smokey and the Bandit II1980IMDb rating 5.3as Carrie
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure1979IMDb rating 4.7as Celeste Whitman
Norma Rae1979IMDb rating 7.3as Norma Rae
Hooper1978IMDb rating 6.4as Gwen Doyle
The End1978IMDb rating 6.1as Mary Ellen
Smokey and the Bandit1977IMDb rating 7.0as Carrie
Stay Hungry1976IMDb rating 5.6as Mary Tate Farnsworth
Home for the Holidays1974IMDb rating 6.2as Christine Morgan
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring1971IMDb rating 6.1as Denise "Dennie" Miller
The Way West1967IMDb rating 6.2as Mercy McBee
Moon Pilot1962IMDb rating 5.3as Beatnik Girl in Lineup

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Forrest Gump1994 Drama, Romanceas Mrs. Gump
IMDb rating 8.82.5M votes
Lincoln2012 Biography, Drama, History, Waras Mary Todd Lincoln
IMDb rating 7.3287K votes
Mrs. Doubtfire1993as Miranda Hillard
IMDb rating 7.1320K votes
The Amazing Spider-Man2012as Aunt May
IMDb rating 7.0788K votes
The Amazing Spider-Man 22014as Aunt May
IMDb rating 6.6609K votes
Steel Magnolias1989as M'Lynn Eatenton
IMDb rating 7.372K votes
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde2003as Rep. Victoria Rudd
IMDb rating 4.881K votes
Remarkably Bright Creatures2026as Tova Sullivan
IMDb rating 7.651K votes

Most often with

Hal Needham directed three of these films, Martin Ritt three and Marc Webb two. Burt Reynolds appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Burt Reynolds

Kim Greist

Michael Caine

Keith David

Alfred Molina

Tom Hanks

Hal NeedhamDirector, 3 films

Martin RittDirector, 3 films Marc WebbDirector, 2 films

Films together

Burt Reynolds4 films together, 1977 to 1980
Burt Reynolds's page
- Smokey and the Bandit II1980IMDb rating 5.3Field as CarrieReynolds as Bandit
- Hooper1978IMDb rating 6.4Field as Gwen DoyleReynolds as Sonny Hooper
- The End1978IMDb rating 6.1Field as Mary EllenReynolds as Wendell Sonny Lawson
- Smokey and the Bandit1977IMDb rating 7.0Field as CarrieReynolds as Bandit
Kim Greist3 films together, 1988 to 1996
Kim Greist's page
- Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco1996IMDb rating 5.9Field as SassyvoiceGreist as Laura Burnford-Seaver
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey1993IMDb rating 7.0Field as SassyvoiceGreist as Laura Burnford-Seaver
- Punchline1988IMDb rating 5.9Field as Lilah KrytsickGreist as Madeline Urie
Michael Caine2 films together, 1979 to 1987
Michael Caine's page
- Surrender1987IMDb rating 5.4Field as Daisy MorganCaine as Sean Stein
- Beyond the Poseidon Adventure1979IMDb rating 4.7Field as Celeste WhitmanCaine as Captain Mike Turner
Keith David2 films together, 1996 to 2000
Keith David's page
- Where the Heart Is2000IMDb rating 6.7Field as Mama LilDavid as Moses Whitecotten
- Eye for an Eye1996IMDb rating 6.2Field as Karen McCannDavid as Martin
Alfred Molina2 films together, 1991 to 2026
Alfred Molina's page
- Remarkably Bright Creatures2026IMDb rating 7.6Field as Tova SullivanMolina as Marcellusvoice
- Not Without My Daughter1991IMDb rating 6.6Field as Betty MahmoodyMolina as Moody
Tom Hanks2 films together, 1988 to 1994
Tom Hanks's page
- Forrest Gump1994IMDb rating 8.8Field as Mrs. GumpHanks as Forrest Gump
- Punchline1988IMDb rating 5.9Field as Lilah KrytsickHanks as Steven Gold
Hal NeedhamDirector, 3 films, 1977 to 1980
All films by Hal Needham
- Smokey and the Bandit II1980IMDb rating 5.3Field as Carrie
- Hooper1978IMDb rating 6.4Field as Gwen Doyle
- Smokey and the Bandit1977IMDb rating 7.0Field as Carrie
Martin RittDirector, 3 films, 1979 to 1985
All films by Martin Ritt
- Murphy's Romance1985IMDb rating 7.0Field as Emma Moriarity
- Back Roads1981IMDb rating 5.7Field as Amy Post
- Norma Rae1979IMDb rating 7.3Field as Norma Rae
Marc WebbDirector, 2 films, 2012 to 2014
All films by Marc Webb
- The Amazing Spider-Man 22014IMDb rating 6.6Field as Aunt May
- The Amazing Spider-Man2012IMDb rating 7.0Field as Aunt May
Also two films together29 more actors
- Ed HarrisEye for an Eye (1996) and Places in the Heart (1984)
- Jeff BridgesKiss Me Goodbye (1982) and Stay Hungry (1976)
- Tommy Lee JonesLincoln (2012) and Back Roads (1981)
- Bruce McGillLincoln (2012) and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
- Bob Balaban80 for Brady (2023) and Absence of Malice (1981)
- Peter BoyleSurrender (1987) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)
- Brian KeithHooper (1978) and Moon Pilot (1962)
- Dom DeLuiseSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and The End (1978)
- Michael J. FoxHomeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
- Campbell ScottThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- James BestHooper (1978) and The End (1978)
- Bert RemsenPlaces in the Heart (1984) and Moon Pilot (1962)
- Emma StoneThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- Don 'Red' BarryBack Roads (1981) and Hooper (1978)
- Eleanor ParkerHome for the Holidays (1974) and Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring (1971)
- Andrew GarfieldThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- Embeth DavidtzThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- Lee de BrouxBack Roads (1981) and Norma Rae (1979)
- Bruce FrenchSurrender (1987) and Murphy's Romance (1985)
- Robert HaysHomeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
- Jackie CooperSurrender (1987) and Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring (1971)
- Jackie GleasonSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Paul WilliamsSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Mike HenrySmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Max CharlesThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- Jerry ReedSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Alfie WiseHooper (1978) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Pat McCormickSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Terry BradshawSmokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Hooper (1978)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Sally Field's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$3.8 billion

27 of the 40 films have a worldwide figure.

27Worldwide figure
4US gross only
4Never in cinemas
5Figure not found

Top grosser

The Amazing Spider-Man2012Aunt May$759 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 84% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Amazing Spider-Man2012as Aunt May
$759M19.8% of the total
2
The Amazing Spider-Man 22014as Aunt May
$717M18.7% of the total
3
Forrest Gump1994as Mrs. Gump
$677M17.7% of the total
4
Mrs. Doubtfire1993as Miranda Hillard
$441M11.5% of the total
5
Lincoln2012as Mary Todd Lincoln
$275M7.2% of the total
6
Smokey and the Bandit1977as Carrie
$127M3.3% of the total
7
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde2003as Rep. Victoria Rudd
$125M3.3% of the total
8
Steel Magnolias1989as M'Lynn Eatenton
$96M2.5% of the total

Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), $66.1 million

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), $57.3 million

Places in the Heart (1984), $34.9 million

Where the Heart Is (2000), $33.8 million

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996), $32.7 million

Not Without My Daughter (1991), $14.8 million

$620 millionfrom the other 19 films with a worldwide figure, 16% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1977 to 2026, eight of them major.

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Sally Field's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1985	Best Actress	Places in the Heart	Won
1980	Best Actress	Norma Rae	Won
Emmy Awards
2026	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	Remarkably Bright Creatures	Won
2007	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Brothers & Sisters	Won
2001	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series	ER	Won
1977	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	Sybil	Won
SAG Awards
2023	Life Achievement Award		Won
2009	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series	Brothers & Sisters	Won
Other honors
2019	Kennedy Center Honors		Won
2014	National Medal of Arts		Won
2014	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored
1986	Crystal Award		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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