Sally Field, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and versatile actresses, has shared countless memorable roles and on-screen romances throughout her decades-long career. Now 76, the award-winning star recently opened up about something a bit more personal—and surprising: her worst on-screen kiss.
Known for unforgettable performances in classics like Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Smokey and the Bandit, Field has long been praised for her emotional depth and charisma on screen. Despite her wide-ranging talent, even she hasn’t escaped a less-than-magical kissing scene.
During a candid appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Field responded to a viewer question about her most awkward on-screen kiss. Initially hesitant, she laughed nervously before saying, “Oh boy. Shall I really name names here?” With a little encouragement from Cohen, she finally revealed, “Okay. This is going to be a shocker. Hold on folks.” Then came the twist: her worst kiss was with none other than Burt Reynolds—her former boyfriend.
Yes, the same Burt Reynolds she starred alongside in Smokey and the Bandit and dated for nearly five years. When Cohen asked for clarification—“But weren’t you dating at the time?”—Field admitted the awkwardness occurred during their relationship and on set. “It just was not something he really did for you,” she said, referencing the lackluster chemistry in their on-screen smooches. She even added that the kisses were messy, mentioning there was “a lot of drooling” on Reynolds’ part.
Despite their public image as a power couple of the late ’70s, their off-screen connection had a darker side. In a March interview with Variety, Field shared that she had cut off contact with Reynolds for the last 30 years of his life. “He was not someone I could be around,” she explained. “He was just not good for me in any way.” While Reynolds would later reflect in his memoir that he regretted how things ended between them, Field made it clear she had no interest in reopening that chapter.
Field’s candidness is a reminder that behind Hollywood’s glamour lies very real human complexity. Despite the discomfort of that kiss—and the troubled relationship that followed—she has carried herself with grace, honesty, and resilience. And through it all, her talent continues to shine, with recent roles in Dispatches from Elsewhere and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty showing she’s far from slowing down.
Sally Field remains a class act—unapologetically honest, immensely gifted, and still one of the greats of our time.
