Ah, Sally Field. If Hollywood was a high school, she’d be the ever-graceful homecoming queen—adored by many, respected by all. Her remarkable career spans decades, and her roles have ranged from hilarious to heart-wrenching. And let’s not pretend we’re not a bit envious of her on-screen smooches, given her roster of leading men.
However, not all on-screen kisses come with pixie dust and fireworks. Some are more akin to awkward, drooly pecks from your great-aunt at Christmas. Recently, Sally revealed her worst offender in this department, and let’s just say—hold onto your hats, folks! It’s a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script.
Sally Field, our beloved queen of performance art, has gifted us with countless memorable moments. Whether she’s making us sob uncontrollably in Steel Magnolias or making us laugh in Mrs. Doubtfire, Sally has done it all. Born into a working-class showbiz family in Pasadena, California, she’s faced more than her fair share of trials and tribulations.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane—cue the nostalgic music. Remember her stunning depiction of a grieving mother in Steel Magnolias? Or her fun, bubbly character in The Flying Nun? She’s been an indelible part of our lives, seamlessly transitioning between TV and silver screen roles.
With such a prolific career, you’d think Sally’s lip-locking escapades would be the stuff of legend. But alas, not all kisses are created equal. She’s had her fair share of romantic moments on camera, but one, in particular, was not quite up to snuff.
During a candid chat on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Sally got real about her worst on-screen kiss. Brace yourselves, movie buffs—it’s none other than her former beau, Burt Reynolds! Gasp!
Yes, indeed! While Burt Reynolds might have been a heartthrob and Sally’s real-life love interest, he did not set her heart racing in the kiss department. When asked about her least favorite on-screen kiss, Sally hesitated, clearly pondering how much tea she should spill. After a nudge from Cohen, she let the cat out of the bag.
“Shall I really name names?” she laughed, scanning the room. It didn’t take much for Cohen to encourage her. Without further ado, Sally revealed, “This is going to be a shocker. Hold on, folks. Burt Reynolds!”
The studio audience probably gasped in unison. Burt Reynolds—the rugged, charming actor who stole hearts in “Smokey and the Bandit.” How could this be?
Sally explained that their on-screen chemistry in “Smokey and the Bandit” didn’t translate to satisfaction in the kissing department. She had to “look the other way” during those moments because, as she put it, “it just was not something he really did for you.”
Cohen’s surprise was palpable: “Isn’t that something?”
Field elaborated further, revealing that Reynolds was prone to, well, drooling during their kisses. Cue your Aunt Marge at Christmas squeezing your cheeks a little too hard. Yikes!
The pair initially met on the “Smokey and the Bandit” set in 1977 and dated for about five years. Although their relationship eventually fizzled out, Reynolds looked back fondly on their time together. In his autobiography, “But Enough About Me,” he expressed regret and wished they had tried harder to make their relationship work.
But Sally, ever the straightforward queen, told Variety in an interview this year, “He was not someone I could be around. He was just not good for me in any way. And he had somehow invented in his rethinking of everything that I was more important to him than he had thought, but I wasn’t. He just wanted to have the thing he didn’t have. I just didn’t want to deal with that.”
In the end, Sally’s candidness just makes us love her even more. She’s navigated the treacherous waters of Hollywood with grace and honesty, all while maintaining her down-to-earth charm. Whether she’s spilling the tea on past romances or giving another stellar performance, Sally Field remains an absolute icon.
And let’s not kid ourselves—if drooling Burt Reynolds is the worst of her worries, Sally is doing just fine. Here’s to many more years of her enchanting us on screen!
