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Sally Field Quotes

Powerful Sally Field for Daily Growth

About Sally Field

Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an acclaimed American actress, producer, and author. Known for her versatility and emotional depth, Field has left an indelible mark on Hollywood, earning two Academy Awards for her outstanding performances. Born in Pasadena, California, Field was the daughter of an unemployed electrician father and a single mother who worked as a professional dancer and later a switchboard operator. Growing up in a turbulent household, Field found solace in acting, joining children's theater groups to escape her reality. Field's professional career began with appearances on popular television shows like 'The Flying Nun' and 'Gidget.' However, it was her role as 'Sybil' in the 1976 television movie of the same name that catapulted her to stardom and earned her an Emmy Award. In 1980, Field made a successful transition to film with her Academy Award-winning performance as 'Norma Rae' in the eponymous film. She repeated this feat in 1984 for her role as 'Mary Todd Lincoln' in 'Lincoln.' Field has been open about her struggles with depression and body image issues throughout her career. In 2018, she published a memoir titled "In Pieces," detailing her personal life, including her relationships and battles with mental health. Field's work extends beyond acting. She has produced television shows like 'ER' and 'Brothers & Sisters,' and in 2007, she co-founded the production company 'Fogwood Productions.' Field's legacy continues to inspire actresses with her powerful performances and fearless portrayals of complex women. Her quote, "I can't help it. I'm afraid that people will find me out, find me terribly, terribly unattractive," encapsulates her struggle with self-doubt and the pressure to conform to beauty standards in Hollywood.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You can't dictate love, and you sure can't demand it."

This quote by Sally Field emphasizes that love, being an emotion, cannot be controlled or commanded; it arises naturally and organically between individuals. It suggests that attempts to force or coerce love will not only fail but may even harm the relationship. Instead, genuine and lasting love grows from mutual understanding, respect, and genuine affection - qualities that can neither be dictated nor demanded, but fostered over time.

"The artist in me cries out for expression, but the woman wants to be heard."

The quote expresses a struggle between an individual's creative instinct (the artist) and their personal identity or communication needs (the woman). It suggests that while the artist craves to express themselves through creativity, there is also a desire to be understood as an individual in a broader social context. This duality can be particularly challenging for artists who want both artistic freedom and recognition of their unique voice and perspective.

"If you've got a dream, do at least one thing each day that moves you in the direction of your goal."

This quote from Sally Field underscores the importance of persistent action towards realizing one's dreams. It suggests that even small, daily steps can accumulate over time to significantly move us closer to our goals. The message is one of perseverance, determination, and consistent effort - a reminder that the path to success is often paved with daily, incremental progress rather than immediate, grand gestures.

"I can't help it. I'm an actress. If you hire me, remember you're hiring an actress."

This quote emphasizes that as a professional actress, Sally Field acknowledges and embraces her role as a performer who is skilled in portraying characters convincingly on stage or screen. In essence, when she accepts a job, the hiring party should be aware that they are not only getting her as a person but also her acting abilities, which may involve playing roles that are different from her real personality.

"The great thing about being an artist is that you can afford to be wrong a certain amount of time."

This quote emphasizes the value of artistic freedom and experimentation, suggesting that as an artist, one has the privilege to make mistakes as part of the creative process. It implies that the path to success may involve numerous trials and errors, but these are essential steps towards innovation and growth in one's artistry. In other words, it is acceptable and even beneficial for artists to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and continually strive for improvement.

When I was born, the doctor looked at my mother and said, 'Congratulations, you have an actor!'

- Sally Field

Mother, Doctor, Looked, Actor

Had there not been a Mary Todd, there would not have been an Abraham Lincoln. She found him when he was a young lawyer and really a bumpkin. No one knew of him, but she recognized his brilliance.

- Sally Field

Young, Been, Knew, Todd

I would take plays and I would cut out all the other dialogue and make long monologues because I felt the other kids weren't taking it as seriously as I did.

- Sally Field

Other, Cut, Plays, Monologues

I've never had my heart broken. It's a very sad state of affairs. I think everybody should have their heart broken. I don't think it says anything good about me at all.

- Sally Field

Everybody, I Think, Very, Affairs

You can't help but feel all the human-rights issues.

- Sally Field

Help, Feel, Issues, Human-Rights

The Oscars are really nice, but the best part is that I had the opportunity to do that kind of work.

- Sally Field

Work, Kind, Part, Best Part

In the 1970s and 1980s, I got to do some great work. The Oscars are really nice, but the best part is that I had the opportunity to do that kind of work.

- Sally Field

Work, Kind, Some, Best Part

Last year I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I was over 50, Caucasian, thin, small-framed, and I have it in my genetic history. It was almost a slam-dunk.

- Sally Field

Over, Last, Genetic, Diagnosed

I joined the Actors Studio and began to work with Lee Strasberg, and that changed my work.

- Sally Field

Studio, Began, Joined, Changed

I don't want to look old and worn, but what can you do? My real focus is being an actor. I care more about having the opportunity to play roles that I haven't played than I care if my neck looks like someone's bedroom curtains.

- Sally Field

Play, Curtains, Roles, Bedroom

I'm looking for a bunch of new tchotchkes that represent the new part of my life.

- Sally Field

My Life, New, Part, Represent

I'm so vigorous, and I so take it for granted, because I've always been a real physical person.

- Sally Field

Real, Always, Been, Vigorous

I haven't had an orthodox career, and I've wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!

- Sally Field

Career, Fact, Feel, Orthodox

I haven't had an orthodox career.

- Sally Field

Career, Had, Orthodox

I did comedies for 10 years and I learned a great deal.

- Sally Field

Deal, Comedies, Learned, Great Deal

I really have no ulterior motive in taking on certain roles. I have no larger issue that I really want to show people. I'm an actor, that's all. I just do what I do.

- Sally Field

Larger, Ulterior, Issue, Motive

I've had such an odd career.

- Sally Field

Career, Had, Odd

But I was losing so much bone density that I would have been in grave danger. And I mean grave danger. If I had let it go just a few more years I could have broken my hip or spine just picking up my granddaughter.

- Sally Field

Danger, Been, Had, Spine

I'd been kind of a hiccup in my parents' lives. They lost track of me and I didn't know what I was going to do with myself. And then fate reached in and took me in its hands. I was discovered right out of high school and started getting work.

- Sally Field

Fate, Been, Discovered, Reached

You just do the best you can with what you've got... and sometimes magic strikes.

- Sally Field

Best, Magic, Sometimes, Strikes

I think the first thing I did was several scenes from Romeo and Juliet.

- Sally Field

Think, I Think, Romeo, The First Thing

When you're old, you are more certain of who you are, and that may be a good thing or a bad thing.

- Sally Field

Bad, May, A Good Thing, Bad Thing

I so believe that older women have tremendous value to their families, their community, their country, the world.

- Sally Field

Country, Older Women, Older

My last son is leaving to go to college; my grandchildren are being born. My mother is living with me.

- Sally Field

College, Living, Last, Leaving

I came from a real working-class show business family.

- Sally Field

Business, Working-Class, I Came

There are not a lot of places for an actor to explore what it's like to be a woman in her 60s. There aren't any films about it and there very few TV series about it.

- Sally Field

Very, TV, Films, TV Series

I really like cable T.V.

- Sally Field

Like, Really, Cable

There was really a snobbery from people in film - they did not want people who had come from television. It was the poor relation of show business, and especially situation comedy.

- Sally Field

Business, Comedy, Television, Snobbery

I think that's very sad, that I haven't allowed my heart to be broken. I have broken a few.

- Sally Field

Broken, Think, Very, Few

You lose your habitual behavior, which allowed you to sort of zone out. You have to be here, you have to be now, you have to be present.

- Sally Field

Here, Which, Allowed, Habitual

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