Sally Field received the Screen Actors Guild lifetime achievement award in 2023 in recognition of her decades-long career in the film and television industries. At the award presentation on February 26 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, Field, 76, accepted the honor.
A montage of Field’s stellar career highlights aired before she entered the stage to give a moving and humble speech. Field was introduced by her The Amazing Spider-Man series co-star Andrew Garfield, who jokingly showered love on the legendary actor. Speaking candidly about her career path, Field stated that she has never felt the need to “hide” behind the personas of other people. Instead, she added that acting has always been about “finding those few precious moments where I feel entirely myself.”
Field said in reference to her journey from her early career in lighter roles like “Gidget” that while her route wasn’t simple, she is aware that others have faced harsher challenges. “As I look around this room tonight, I know my fight, as hard as it was, was lightweight compared to some of yours,” the actor said to the crowd.
Field continued, “Easy gets a bad rap. I’ve been on horses, wagon trains, fast cars, flown on wires, surfed in the ocean, etc. I’ve worked for Mrs. Doubtfire, raised Forrest Gump, been Mrs. Lincoln, and been Spider-aunt.” Man’s
Every day, she added, she felt “quietly happy” to be able to call herself an actor. “Thank you so much for this wonderful honor,”
The 76-year-old is the 58th recipient of the SAG lifetime achievement award, which is traditionally given to an actor “who fosters the finest ideals of the acting profession,” according to a press release from the Screen Actors Guild.
The two-time best actress Oscar winner has been nominated for nine SAG Awards throughout her career, winning outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series in 2009 for “Brothers & Sisters.”
