Nowadays, it’s getting more and harder to find a celebrity who hasn’t had cosmetic surgery, especially considering the intense pressure that renowned women face to uphold a specific image. But even at the age of 76, Sally Field has bucked many expectations placed on aging and physical attractiveness by society.
For her roles in movies like “Forrest Gump” and “Steel Magnolias,” Sally Field is well-known. While her cinematic career has received widespread praise, her fight against ageism in Hollywood may be her most notable achievement.
Sally Field, who was born in Pasadena, California, in 1946, first rose to recognition as a result of her appearances on “Gidget” and “The Flying Nun” on television. After finding success on television, she made the switch to film and rose to fame as a talented actress, appearing in classic films like “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Norma Rae,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Forrest Gump.”
Field accepted the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2023 at the age of 76 and gave a nice acceptance speech that honored her great career.
Two Academy Oscars, two BAFTA Film Award nominations, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two SAG Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award), and a Tony nomination are just a few of the honors Field has won over her career.
In addition to her dramatic prowess, Field is lauded for her activism. Her SAG Achievement Award speech modestly mirrored her challenging acting career. She has been hailed as ageless and gifted.
Acting, to me, has always been about discovering those rare, precious moments when I feel entirely, utterly, and occasionally dangerously alive, the actress said when discussing the transformational effect of acting. Finding a route to there has always been the task.
During the award ceremony, Field, who was dressed stylishly in a black gown and had her natural gray hair, exuded grace and beauty.
Field welcomed the idea of aging gracefully in a 2016 interview with NPR about her part as quirky and aging Doris Miller, saying, “I’m an old woman, 70 is old, and that’s alright. My years have given me strength; I own them; I’ve worked for them; I’ve earned them; and I have a claim to them. Also, I don’t like my neck and a lot of other stuff, but it’s alright.
Field had previously spoken in an interview on the idea of aging gracefully. She discussed how, throughout her career, she resisted the urge to get cosmetic surgery in an interview with Good Housekeeping from 2009:
“When I catch a glimpse of myself on television, I lament the fact that my neck is suffering. And your eyes are so swollen, and your face is sagging. Yet, as I look at some of the women (who have undergone plastic surgery), I realize how lovely I thought they were when they were younger. Oh, my, don’t do it, I am thinking right now. And that appears to be a grave disdain for who they are right now.
Sally Field’s decision to embrace natural aging and defy pressure from society to get cosmetic surgery is evidence of her sincerity and self-assurance. Many people respect her for always remaining true to herself.