Sally Field Recalls First Date With Burt Reynolds and Reflects on Their Complex Hollywood Romance

Sally Field says she was so nervous before her first date with Burt Reynolds that she thought she might pass out. The two-time Oscar winner shared the memory during a recent appearance on TCM's Talking Pictures podcast, where she reflected on the beginning of one of Hollywood's most famous relationships.

Field and Reynolds met while preparing to film the 1977 blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit. According to Field, Reynolds personally called her to discuss the project, even though she was surprised he wanted her for the role.

"I got this phone call, and it was from Burt Reynolds, and he wanted me to do this film," Field recalled. She joked that the script was "really, really bad," but said she was shocked that Reynolds had reached out to her directly.

Field initially assumed Reynolds had seen her acclaimed performance in the television movie Sybil. Instead, he told her he had always enjoyed watching her in the 1960s sitcom Gidget.

Sally Field's First Date With Burt Reynolds

After agreeing to meet Reynolds, Field found herself overwhelmed with nerves.

"I was so nervous, I thought I would pass out," she said on the podcast. At the time, Field explained that she had little dating experience because she had entered the entertainment industry at a young age.

The actress vividly remembered being escorted downstairs by Reynolds' bodyguard before their date. Looking back, she described herself as acting like "a fool" and "a clown" because humor was her way of handling anxiety.

The evening remains somewhat blurry in her memory.

"I just was nervous. It was all a blur," Field said. "I had learned how to be an actor, but I didn't know how to do that. I didn't know how to be that girl."

A High-Profile Hollywood Relationship

Field and Reynolds quickly became one of Hollywood's most talked-about couples. They dated for about five years, from 1977 until the early 1980s, while starring together in four films:

• Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

• Hooper (1978)

• The End (1978)

• Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)

Their romance was often portrayed as glamorous, but Field later revealed that the relationship was far more complicated behind the scenes.

In her 2018 memoir In Pieces, she described Reynolds as charismatic and talented but also emotionally controlling. Field wrote that she often changed her appearance and behavior to meet his expectations, saying, "I dressed for him, looked for him, walked for him."

Tensions Over Sally Field's Career

One of the major points of conflict involved Field's career ambitions. During a previous interview, she recalled Reynolds' reaction to the script for Norma Rae, the 1979 drama that earned her her first Academy Award.

Field said Reynolds criticized the character and objected to her taking the role. She remembered standing firm despite his objections.

"This is the better of me," she recalled telling him during an argument.

The film became a turning point in Field's career, establishing her as one of Hollywood's leading dramatic actresses.

Why Sally Field and Burt Reynolds Broke Up

Field has said the relationship ended because she felt she was losing her sense of self. She later reflected that she had effectively "stopped existing" within the relationship and needed to leave in order to reclaim her independence.

Although Reynolds proposed marriage several times, Field declined, believing that marriage would not solve the deeper issues between them.

The couple separated in 1982 and largely lost contact in the years that followed.

Burt Reynolds' Regret and Sally Field's Reflection

In later life, Reynolds frequently described Field as "the love of my life" and "the one that got away." While promoting his 2015 memoir, he admitted that he deeply regretted how their relationship ended.

"I miss her terribly," Reynolds said at the time.

Field, however, viewed their shared history differently. She acknowledged the importance of their relationship but suggested Reynolds was remembering a version of her that no longer existed.

Following Reynolds' death in 2018, Field released a heartfelt statement honoring their years together.

"There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away," she said. "My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live."

The relationship between Sally Field and Burt Reynolds remains one of Hollywood's most memorable love stories—marked by passion, success, personal struggles, and lasting impact on both stars' lives.