Sally Field

Actress Sally Field's big break came when she played the lead role in the TV sitcom "Gidget" (1965). Field won Emmy Awards for her performances in "Sybil" (1976), "Beautiful" (2000) and "Saturday Evening Post" (2007), and she won Academy Awards for "Norma Rae" (1979) and "Places in the Heart" (1984). In the 1990s and 2000s, Field also worked behind the scenes as a director and writer. From the podium, Field speaks candidly about her life and art, delivers empowering messages to women on balancing the demands of family and career, and educates fellow victims of osteoporosis on how best to manage the disease.

Field is a delightful presence on the lecture stage as she draws on the triumphant struggles of her own life in inspiring others to achieve their dreams. She describes how she gradually won control over her artistic career in an industry notorious for denying such control -beginning with her breakthrough performance in the landmark miniseries "Sibyl" in 1976 (in which her stunning, nuanced portrayal of a woman with multiple personalities shattered Hollywoods conception of her as capable only of lighthearted comic roles), and continuing with her brilliant Oscar-winning performances in "Norma Rae" and "Places in the Heart," which cemented her status as one of the worlds greatest actresses. Sally also discusses her Emmy-winning roles as Dr. Abby Lockharts bipolar mother on "ER," her recent acclaimed Broadway performance in Edward Albees "Who Is Sylvia," and her role in the ABC drama "Brothers & Sisters."

In 2005, Sally was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Her diagnosis led her to create the "Rally With Sally For Bone Health" campaign with support from Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, which promotes Boniva, a treatment for osteoporosis. Sally welcomes opportunities to teach others how to keep the disease under control and continue living life on their own terms. Field is also an activist for LGBTQ rights. In 2012 she won the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award (her youngest son, Sam, has come out as gay).

She portrayed Aunt May in the Marvel Comics films "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012) as well as the 2014 sequel. Field's widely praised portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln" brought her Best Supporting Actress nominations for the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, and the BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild awards.

On May 5, 2014, Field received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions in the motion picture. Her star is located in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum. In January 2015, it was announced that she would co-host "TCM."

An independent woman of fierce determination and dazzling talents, Sally Field is an inspiration to listening audiences everywhere.