Sally Field, 76, Defied Ageism in Hollywood and Embraced Natural Beauty
It’s rare to see a celebrity today who has not had work done, especially due to the amount of pressure often placed on famous women. Being a woman in Hollywood is challenging, but even at 76, Sally Field has defied most of the rules established in the industry.
Sally Field’s work in films like “Forrest Gump” and “Steel Magnolias” is beloved. However, some of her most admirable work is her personal commitment to fighting ageism in her career.
Born in 1946 in Pasadena, California, Sally Field first rose to fame in television series like “Gidget” and “The Flying Nun.” The now 76-year-old star evolved into an impressive actress and activist, transitioning into the film industry not long after her television career.
She starred in numerous iconic films, including “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Norma Rae,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Forrest Gump.”
In February 2023, the actress received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and delivered a gracious acceptance speech that reflected on her remarkable and storied career.
Field had already received a slew of awards in her career: two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Film Award nominations, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, two SAG Awards, including her most recent Life Achievement Award, and a Tony nomination.
As a vocal activist, Field is often described as ageless and talented. Her SAG Achievement Award speech was humble and shed light on her complex acting journey.
“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.”
Dressed in a beautiful black outfit with her natural gray hair, Field appeared every bit a vision of beauty and grace.
“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.
When Field played Doris Miller in 2016, she spoke to NPR about her character—an aging, eccentric woman:
“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.”
This is not the first time Field has discussed the idea of aging naturally in an interview. Speaking with Good Housekeeping in 2009, she explained how she resisted the urge to get work done throughout her career:
“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.”
We believe Sally Field is beautiful at any age, especially because she has stayed true to herself. What do you think about her choice to remain natural?
