Sally Field has never been one to shy away from telling her truth—even when it comes to deeply personal matters, such as her complex relationship with legendary actor Burt Reynolds. While Reynolds publicly declared her as the love of his life three years before his death in 2018, Field has since clarified that their love story was far more complicated than the romanticized version he shared with the world.

Reynolds and Field met on the set of Smokey and the Bandit in 1977 and began a high-profile relationship that would last five years. Though Reynolds expressed deep regret over the end of their relationship in later interviews, Field sees it differently. “He was not someone I could be around,” she said in a candid interview. “He was definitely not the right person for me.”

Field, now in her late 70s, believes Reynolds clung to an idealized version of her that didn’t match reality. “Somehow, in his reimagining of things, I became more important to him than I really was,” she explained. “But I wasn’t. He yearned for something that was never his. And I wasn’t going to be responsible for managing that.”

Her 2018 memoir In Pieces, which was released just 12 days after Reynolds’ passing, sheds light on the emotional turmoil and darker aspects of their relationship. In the book, Field details Reynolds’ use of prescription drugs, including barbiturates, Valium, and Percodan during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit. She also revealed the controlling nature of the relationship, describing him as emotionally abusive and overbearing.

The relationship, Field explained, echoed unresolved trauma from her past. Her dynamic with Reynolds paralleled her troubled relationship with her stepfather, actor and stuntman Jock Mahoney, whom she accuses in her memoir of sexual abuse during her childhood. “It was as if I was trying to exorcise something that should’ve already been exorcised,” she wrote, acknowledging how her past had influenced the people she allowed into her life.

Despite her painful experiences with Reynolds, Field paid tribute to him when he died, calling him an important part of her life’s journey. However, she did not attend his funeral, choosing instead to let her memoir serve as the final word on their connection.

Over her decades-long career, Field has proven to be a resilient force in Hollywood. She began as the bubbly teen in Gidget and later took on the role of Sister Bertrille in The Flying Nun. But despite the popularity of those shows, Field admits she found the roles limiting. “It was just a job,” she said of The Flying Nun. “But it taught me how to handle hard situations. I learned to put my head down and get to work, even when I wasn’t sure what I was working toward.”

Her breakout moment came in the late 1970s with critically acclaimed film roles. Smokey and the Bandit may have boosted her visibility, but it was her performance in Norma Rae (1979) that earned her her first Academy Award. She followed it with another Oscar win for Places in the Heart (1984). Despite these accolades, she faced many challenges behind the scenes, including wage disparities and unwanted sexual advances, issues many women in the industry continue to face.

“I was never in a position to hold out for more money,” Field shared. “I had to make a living. I often felt like a powerless little girl. I just took whatever I could get.”

Field also reflected on one of the most misunderstood moments of her career—her now-famous Oscar speech in 1985, where she declared, “You like me!” The line has often been quoted out of context. “Sometimes I want to punch people in the nose when they bring that up,” she said with a laugh. “They never include what I said right before that.”

She explained that the speech was about more than recognition—it was about overcoming self-doubt and finally feeling seen. “I didn’t have a smooth career. It wasn’t easy. But in that moment, I allowed myself to feel appreciated. That was important to me. I did the work, and it meant something.”

Now, Field continues to challenge herself as an actor and creative force. She recently worked alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Rita Moreno in the film 80 for Brady and appeared in HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. At every stage of her life, Field has proven that growth, resilience, and truth-telling are essential to survival in an often unforgiving industry.

Sally Field’s story is one of talent, determination, and bravery. She not only stood up to Hollywood’s expectations but also to her own fears and past traumas. Her legacy is not defined by any single role—or relationship—but by her courage to live authentically and speak her truth, no matter how complicated it might be.