Sally Field began her professional television career after attending the Columbia Pictures Actors Workshop. This training led to her being cast in the title role of the sitcom Gidget by Eddie Foy III.

On the show, she developed her early screen craft working alongside co-star Don Porter, who portrayed her father.

In her early career, Field gained additional screen experience by appearing in the film The Way West.

She also made appearances on popular television programs such as Hollywood Squares and The Dating Game. , which was written by Garry Marshall.

Following her early roles, Field starred as Sister Bertrille in the sitcom The Flying Nun, which was produced by Harry Ackerman.

While the series achieved high pop-culture visibility, Field found herself wanting to move away from sitcoms to play more serious roles. This desire prompted her to seek professional training to help change her industry perception.

Determined to be recognized as a serious dramatic actress, Field studied acting under Lee Strasberg. She eventually studied at the Actors Studio to further develop her dramatic skills and move past sitcom casting.

During this transitional period, she starred in the comedy series The Girl with Something Extra and Bob Rafelson's feature film Stay Hungry.

Field achieved a major career breakthrough by starring in the acclaimed made-for-television movie Sybil. In the film, she worked closely with Joanne Woodward, who portrayed Dr.

Cornelia Wilbur. Her powerful performance in this challenging role earned Field her very first Emmy Award and deeply impacted her life.

Field transitioned successfully into feature films by starring in the 1979 drama Norma Rae. The film was directed by Martin Ritt and earned Field an Academy Award for her performance.

This milestone solidified her status as a highly respected leading actress in major motion pictures.

To take greater control of her career, Field established her own film production company. Initially, she chose not to put her name on her productions because she felt it altered how audiences and the industry perceived the films.

She has since celebrated the growing presence of women working behind the camera as writers, directors, and producers.

Field expanded her artistic portfolio by starring in the feature film Soapdish, a comedy centered around the making of a television soap opera.

She also starred in and executive produced the television project A Woman of Independent Means. These roles showcased her versatility as both a leading performer and a creative executive.

In addition to her acting and producing, Field expanded her career into directing. She directed the television movie The Christmas Tree, which starred actress Julie Harris.

She also directed a segment of the project From the Earth to the Moon for producer Tom Hanks.

Field returned to television with a critically acclaimed guest-starring performance on the medical drama series ER.

Her powerful guest appearance earned her an Emmy Award. This achievement marked another major television accolade in her diverse multi-decade career.

Field starred in the television drama series The Court. Although she was highly dedicated to the project, the series was short-lived.

Field expressed disappointment when ABC made the decision to cancel the series shortly after its debut.

On March 22, 2004, Field participated in a comprehensive two-hour interview in Los Angeles, California. The session was conducted by Darby Maloney as a joint venture with UCLA for the Living Television Collection.

In her interview, she openly detailed her personal career journey and her experiences confronting industry sexism and ageism.