Sally Field’s career has spanned over five decades, earning her Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes for unforgettable roles in Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias, and Lincoln. But behind the accolades lies a story of resilience—one marked by childhood trauma, toxic relationships, and a relentless pursuit of self-worth.
Born in Pasadena in 1946, Field grew up in a broken home. Her mother, actress Margaret Field, later married stuntman Jock Mahoney—a man who sexually abused Sally from the age of 14. In her memoir In Pieces, she reveals the painful truth: her mother knew but chose to believe her husband’s lie that it had only happened once. Field spent years grappling with the betrayal, writing the book after her mother’s death as a way to understand—and eventually forgive.
Her personal struggles extended into adulthood. Her relationship with Burt Reynolds, which she describes as “complicated and hurtful,” was marked by control and manipulation. He once convinced her not to attend the Emmys, where she won for Sybil. Though Reynolds later called their split his “biggest regret,” Field hadn’t spoken to him in 30 years before his death. “He was not someone I could be around,” she admitted.
Despite the pain, Field built an extraordinary career—refusing to be typecast and fighting for complex roles. Today, at 76, she’s still working, with recent films like Spoiler Alert and 80 for Brady. Her Oscars sit in a TV room where she plays video games with her grandkids—proof that her greatest role wasn’t on-screen, but as a survivor who reclaimed her own story.