Sally Field Discusses Burt Reynolds, Actors Studio, and Career Battles on Talking Pictures Podcast

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The Oscar winner reflects on her memoir, abusive relationships, and rarely crying at movies.

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HBO Max posted a new episode of TALKING PICTURES PODCAST featuring a lengthy conversation between host Ben Mankiewicz and Oscar-winning actress Sally Field , drawing on her memoir In Pieces to cover some of the most consequential chapters of her career.

Much of the discussion centers on Field's complicated personal history with Burt Reynolds , her co-star in SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, whom she describes as sharing troubling qualities with her abusive stepfather. Field also traces the turning point in her professional life to her introduction to The Actors Studio during the run of THE FLYING NUN, a period she credits with reshaping her entirely as a performer. That transformation, she explains, gave her the conviction to fight for the role in NORMA RAE and later to push back against Steven Spielberg twice during the making of LINCOLN, prevailing on both occasions.

The episode also includes a segment in which Field praises Louise Fletcher's performance in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and reflects on her own tendency not to cry at movies, a candid admission that runs against the grain of the emotional reputation she carries. The conversation ranges across a wide catalog of films, from STEEL MAGNOLIAS and FORREST GUMP to GONE WITH THE WIND and THE SEARCHERS.

The Sally Field episode is the seventh installment of Season 3 of TALKING PICTURES PODCAST. Earlier this season, Susan Sarandon spoke with Mankiewicz about her career and her personal role in shaping the ending of THELMA & LOUISE.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Sally-Field-Opens-Up-About-Burt-Reynolds-Actors-Studio-and-Career-Fights-on-TALKING-PICTURES-PODCAST-20260611)._