Sally Field has enjoyed an extraordinary career in Hollywood, earning admiration for her talent and memorable performances. But even a legendary actress can have one on-screen moment she would rather forget.
Throughout her long career, Field has portrayed countless romances and shared plenty of memorable kisses with her co-stars. During a recent interview, she was asked which on-screen kiss had been the worst — and although she initially hesitated to reveal the actor’s name, she eventually gave an unexpected answer.
Sally Field is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation. Over the years, she has appeared in some of television and cinema’s most recognizable productions.
Fans may remember her powerful performance in Steel Magnolias, particularly the emotional funeral scene, where she portrayed a mother overwhelmed by love, grief, anger and heartbreak.
She also became famous through productions including Gidget, The Flying Nun, Smokey and the Bandit, Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire and Erin Brockovich.
Field was born in Pasadena, California, and grew up in a working-class entertainment family.
Her childhood, however, was far from easy. In her memoir, Field revealed painful experiences involving her stepfather and also discussed having an abortion at the age of 17.
Despite those difficult experiences, she went on to build a remarkable career and became known for her warmth, humility and powerful performances.
Field has continued working well into her later years. She appeared in the 2020 series Dispatches From Elsewhere and later played Jessie Buss in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
Her continued work in entertainment has also meant that she occasionally appears in interviews, where she has shared personal stories from her decades in Hollywood.
During a December 1 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Field was asked by a viewer to identify her worst on-screen kiss.
The question immediately made her laugh.
“Oh boy. Shall I really name names here?” she asked.
Andy Cohen encouraged her to reveal the answer.
Eventually, Field decided to be honest.
She named her former boyfriend and co-star, Burt Reynolds.
Cohen then pointed out that the two were actually dating at the time they filmed together.
Field explained that they worked together on Smokey and the Bandit, and she sometimes had to simply look past certain aspects of their romantic scenes.
She recalled that Reynolds was not exactly the ideal on-screen kisser and even mentioned that there was quite a bit of “drooling” involved.
The pair first met while filming Smokey and the Bandit in 1977 and went on to have a relationship that lasted roughly five years.
Reynolds later spoke about their relationship in his memoir and expressed regret about how things had ended between them.
Field later explained that she had chosen not to maintain contact with Reynolds during the final decades of his life.
She said that being around him was not healthy for her and that their relationship had ultimately been harmful.
Reynolds died in 2018 at the age of 82 following cardiac arrest.
Although their relationship became a complicated part of both their histories, Field has continued to focus on her extraordinary career and the many performances that made her one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses.
For generations of viewers, Sally Field remains a beloved screen legend whose work continues to leave a lasting impression.
