Sally Field Opens Up About Her Most Awkward On-Screen Kiss—And It’s Not Who You’d Expect
Sally Field, one of Hollywood’s most cherished and versatile actresses, has delivered countless unforgettable performances and on-screen romances throughout her decades-long career. Now at 76, the Oscar-winning star recently revealed something a bit more personal—and surprisingly candid: her worst on-screen kiss.
Beloved for her roles in iconic films like Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Smokey and the Bandit, Field has long been celebrated for her emotional range and natural charm. But even an actress of her caliber isn’t immune to a lackluster kissing scene.
During a revealing appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Field was asked by a viewer about her most uncomfortable on-screen kiss. At first hesitant, she chuckled nervously and said, “Oh boy. Should I really say this out loud?” With some gentle prodding from Cohen, she finally spilled: “Okay, here it goes. Brace yourselves.” The surprise? Her worst kiss was with Burt Reynolds—her co-star and real-life boyfriend at the time.
Yes, Burt Reynolds—the same man she dated for nearly five years and starred opposite in Smokey and the Bandit. When Cohen followed up—“But weren’t you dating then?”—Field confirmed that the awkward kisses happened during their relationship and while filming. “It just wasn’t something he was very good at,” she admitted. She went on to describe the kisses as sloppy, even saying there was “a lot of drooling.”
Although they were seen as a golden couple in the late 1970s, their real-life relationship wasn’t as glossy as the tabloid headlines made it seem. In a candid Variety interview earlier this year, Field revealed she hadn’t spoken to Reynolds during the last 30 years of his life. “He was not someone I could be around,” she said bluntly. “He simply wasn’t good for me in any way.” While Reynolds later expressed regret over how their relationship ended in his memoir, Field made it clear she had no interest in revisiting the past.
Her honesty is a powerful reminder that behind the Hollywood spotlight are real people with complicated stories. Despite the awkward on-screen kisses and the difficult relationship that followed, Sally Field has always handled herself with integrity, sincerity, and strength. And her career is still thriving—with recent standout roles in Dispatches from Elsewhere and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, she proves she’s far from done.
Sally Field remains a timeless talent—gracefully honest, deeply skilled, and still one of the most respected figures in the industry.