This Girl Was Told She Was ‘Not Pretty Enough’ for Film Yet She Won 2 Oscars & Raised Sons Following in Her Footsteps

This celebrated actress, director, and writer has a life story that’s as captivating as the roles she’s portrayed on screen. Born on November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California, she was the youngest of two children born to an actress mother.

Growing up in a family deeply entwined with show business, her journey into the limelight was not always smooth. Her parents went through a divorce, and her mother later married an actor and stuntman who then became the girl’s stepfather.

He was known for his strict discipline and expected unwavering obedience from the young girl and her siblings. Frequent clashes between mother and stepfather cast a shadow over the household, affecting the children deeply. But for her, extracurricular activities at school offered a lifeline. As she once said:

“I’d landed in the drama department, and it just kind of saved me.”

The Birth of a Star

After graduating from high school, she embarked on an acting journey that would lay the foundation for her remarkable film and television career. Her first big break came in the form of the television series “Gidget,” debuting in 1965. At just 18 years old, Sally Field played the leading role of Gidget, a spirited teenager on a quest for fun alongside her best friend Larue.

Despite the series’ cancellation after just one season, Field had already captured the hearts of television audiences. She had become so popular that the network couldn’t resist creating another series tailor-made for her. The wings of “The Flying Nun” took off in September 1967, quickly soaring to new heights.