Throughout her extraordinary career, Sally Field has become beloved not only for her remarkable acting ability but also for her honesty.
Vulnerability, and willingness to speak openly about her life — both the highs and the lows.
The name she shared instantly captured headlines, not simply for its shock value, but because it touched on a deeply personal chapter in her life.
At age 76 during that interview, Field didn’t hesitate to name Burt Reynolds — her co‑star, lover, and one of the most iconic actors of the 1970s — as the person behind that memorable (or in this case unforgettable) kiss.
“Okay, this is gonna be a shocker. Hold on, folks,” she teased before letting the revelation drop. “It’s Burt Reynolds.” Field’s humorous delivery immediately produced laughter from the studio audience, but what followed was equally candid and revealing.
“It was just not something he really did very well,” she told Andy Cohen, adding with a smile that Reynolds had “a lot of drooling” involved in his onscreen smooches.
From Co‑Stars to Lovers
Field and Reynolds first crossed paths in the mid‑1970s after they were cast together in the blockbuster road‑comedy Smokey and the Bandit (1977), a film that became ingrained in American pop culture and helped elevate both actors’ profiles.
Their chemistry on screen translated into a romantic relationship off screen, one that lasted nearly five years and became one of Hollywood’s most talked‑about pairings.
Reynolds, already a major box‑office draw and sex symbol, reportedly played a significant role in Field’s rise in mainstream cinema during that period.
A Highly Publicized Confession
During the Watch What Happens Live episode, Cohen playfully pressed Field for more details about what made that kiss so memorable.
When he asked whether it involved the infamous “tongue,” she laughed before deflecting, saying “not totally involved” but emphasizing again the drooling she found awkward.
Her ability to poke fun at even intimate moments of her past showcased her wit and self‑awareness, a trait that has long endeared her to audiences.
While the comment created a viral moment, Field’s recollection was never meant to embarrass Reynolds. Her tone — humorous, candid, and reflective — underscored both the playful nature of the anecdote and the complexity of looking back on youthful experiences with the benefit of decades of perspective.
Beyond the Kiss — A Complicated Relationship
Field’s candid remarks about the kiss were just one aspect of her larger reflection on her relationship with Reynolds.
In her 2018 memoir, In Pieces, she described their romance as “confusing and complicated,” and acknowledged that it was “not without loving and caring,” but ultimately “hurtful” in ways she had to understand and unpack years later.
She has spoken openly about how her past, including experiences with a difficult relationship with her stepfather, affected her choices in adulthood — including her time with Reynolds, whom she once described as someone she was “not good for me in any way.”
Field also noted that Reynolds sometimes reimagined their relationship in his own mind after they split.
While Reynolds had publicly referred to her as “the love of my life,” Field later suggested that his recollections didn’t fully align with her own experiences, remarking that he “invented in his rethinking of everything that I was more important to him than he had thought, but I wasn’t.”
Additionally, she has addressed how unpredictable and controlling moments within the relationship sometimes left her feeling like she wasn’t able to be her true self.
In a 2024 interview, she admitted that during their time together she often felt “absent” from her own experience, shaped by the pressure to please and adapt rather than to express her authentic self.
The Many Faces of Burt Reynolds in Her Story
Reynolds, who passed away in 2018 at age 82, had his own perspective on their time together.
In interviews before his death, he described Field as one of the most significant women in his life, calling her the love of his life and later acknowledging that ending their relationship was one of his biggest regrets.
Hearing Reynolds speak in those terms added another layer to the public’s understanding of their connection — one with admiration, pain, nostalgia, and missed possibilities intertwined.
Yet, Field’s later reflections show a nuanced perspective. She did not shy away from acknowledging the good — the “instantaneous connection” they shared — but she also did not romanticize aspects of the relationship that ultimately weren’t healthy for her.
Her ability to discuss both the emotional magnetism and the challenges they faced speaks to her broader willingness to confront difficult truths with honesty and grace.
How the Public Responded to Her Confession
When Field’s comments about her worst on‑screen kiss went viral, it sparked laughter, surprise, and a burst of media coverage. Some fans delighted in the relatability of her revelation — after all, even Hollywood legends have awkward moments — while others appreciated the insight into Field’s character: candid, thoughtful, and unafraid to speak her mind.
Social media buzzed with reactions, some humorous and some reflective, as audiences eagerly shared clips and quotes from the interview.
The moment highlighted Field’s enduring cultural relevance and her ability to transform what could have been an awkward anecdote into a moment of human connection and levity.
A Life Lived Fully — Both Onscreen and Off
Field, now in her late seventies, has forged a career defined by powerful performances, emotional honesty, and a willingness to reveal the lived experience behind the glamour of Hollywood.
From breakout films like Norma Rae and Places in the Heart, for which she won Academy Awards, to television triumphs and stage work, Field has never shied away from roles that demand vulnerability and depth — traits that she has also brought to her personal storytelling.
Her candidness about her personal life — including relationships like the one with Reynolds — reminds audiences that actors are constantly navigating complex relationships both on and off the screen, and that the stories behind the stories can be as compelling as the performances themselves.
Her reflections on the past don’t diminish her career; they enrich it, inviting fans to see not just the star but the human being behind each role.
Legacy and Lessons
Looking back on her confession and the broader arc of her life and relationships, one of the clearest themes is this: Sally Field champions honesty, courage, and personal growth.
Whether she’s talking about an awkward on‑screen kiss or the deeper emotional impacts of a long‑ago romance, she speaks with a blend of humor and wisdom that resonates because it feels authentic.
Her anecdote about Burt Reynolds’s kissing technique may have sparked laughter, but it also offers insight into how memory and experience — even those that are uncomfortable — shape a person’s perspective over time.
It is a testament to the idea that life’s most memorable moments aren’t always perfect — sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re awkward, and sometimes they’re deeply human.
Conclusion
Sally Field’s candid revelation about her “worst on‑screen kiss” remains a memorable pop‑culture moment not because of gossip but because it reveals her unique ability to blend humor, honesty, and reflection — qualities that have defined her career and public persona.
Field reminded audiences that even Hollywood icons have off‑camera complexities behind storied careers — and that those personal stories, told with truth and grace, are often as fascinating as the films and performances that made them famous.
Throughout her extraordinary career, Sally Field has become beloved not only for her remarkable acting ability but also for her honesty.
Vulnerability, and willingness to speak openly about her life — both the highs and the lows.
In December 2022, the two‑time Academy Award winner surprised audiences during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen when she revealed who she considered the worst on‑screen kisser of her long career — and the answer wasn’t someone fans would have expected.
The name she shared instantly captured headlines, not simply for its shock value, but because it touched on a deeply personal chapter in her life.
At age 76 during that interview, Field didn’t hesitate to name Burt Reynolds — her co‑star, lover, and one of the most iconic actors of the 1970s — as the person behind that memorable (or in this case unforgettable) kiss.
“Okay, this is gonna be a shocker. Hold on, folks,” she teased before letting the revelation drop. “It’s Burt Reynolds.” Field’s humorous delivery immediately produced laughter from the studio audience, but what followed was equally candid and revealing.
“It was just not something he really did very well,” she told Andy Cohen, adding with a smile that Reynolds had “a lot of drooling” involved in his onscreen smooches.
From Co‑Stars to Lovers
Field and Reynolds first crossed paths in the mid‑1970s after they were cast together in the blockbuster road‑comedy Smokey and the Bandit (1977), a film that became ingrained in American pop culture and helped elevate both actors’ profiles.
Their chemistry on screen translated into a romantic relationship off screen, one that lasted nearly five years and became one of Hollywood’s most talked‑about pairings.
Reynolds, already a major box‑office draw and sex symbol, reportedly played a significant role in Field’s rise in mainstream cinema during that period.
Despite their on‑screen presence and charismatic work together, Field’s memories of the intimacy of their partnership were far more complicated — mixing affection, discomfort, humor, and reflection.
A Highly Publicized Confession
During the Watch What Happens Live episode, Cohen playfully pressed Field for more details about what made that kiss so memorable.
When he asked whether it involved the infamous “tongue,” she laughed before deflecting, saying “not totally involved” but emphasizing again the drooling she found awkward.
Her ability to poke fun at even intimate moments of her past showcased her wit and self‑awareness, a trait that has long endeared her to audiences.
While the comment created a viral moment, Field’s recollection was never meant to embarrass Reynolds. Her tone — humorous, candid, and reflective — underscored both the playful nature of the anecdote and the complexity of looking back on youthful experiences with the benefit of decades of perspective.
Beyond the Kiss — A Complicated Relationship
Field’s candid remarks about the kiss were just one aspect of her larger reflection on her relationship with Reynolds.
In her 2018 memoir, In Pieces, she described their romance as “confusing and complicated,” and acknowledged that it was “not without loving and caring,” but ultimately “hurtful” in ways she had to understand and unpack years later.
In the memoir and subsequent interviews, Field explained that the emotional dynamics between them were shaped by deep‑seated personal patterns.
She has spoken openly about how her past, including experiences with a difficult relationship with her stepfather, affected her choices in adulthood — including her time with Reynolds, whom she once described as someone she was “not good for me in any way.”
Field also noted that Reynolds sometimes reimagined their relationship in his own mind after they split.
While Reynolds had publicly referred to her as “the love of my life,” Field later suggested that his recollections didn’t fully align with her own experiences, remarking that he “invented in his rethinking of everything that I was more important to him than he had thought, but I wasn’t.”
Additionally, she has addressed how unpredictable and controlling moments within the relationship sometimes left her feeling like she wasn’t able to be her true self.
In a 2024 interview, she admitted that during their time together she often felt “absent” from her own experience, shaped by the pressure to please and adapt rather than to express her authentic self.
The Many Faces of Burt Reynolds in Her Story
Reynolds, who passed away in 2018 at age 82, had his own perspective on their time together.
In interviews before his death, he described Field as one of the most significant women in his life, calling her the love of his life and later acknowledging that ending their relationship was one of his biggest regrets.
Hearing Reynolds speak in those terms added another layer to the public’s understanding of their connection — one with admiration, pain, nostalgia, and missed possibilities intertwined.
Yet, Field’s later reflections show a nuanced perspective. She did not shy away from acknowledging the good — the “instantaneous connection” they shared — but she also did not romanticize aspects of the relationship that ultimately weren’t healthy for her.
Her ability to discuss both the emotional magnetism and the challenges they faced speaks to her broader willingness to confront difficult truths with honesty and grace.
How the Public Responded to Her Confession
When Field’s comments about her worst on‑screen kiss went viral, it sparked laughter, surprise, and a burst of media coverage. Some fans delighted in the relatability of her revelation — after all, even Hollywood legends have awkward moments — while others appreciated the insight into Field’s character: candid, thoughtful, and unafraid to speak her mind.
Social media buzzed with reactions, some humorous and some reflective, as audiences eagerly shared clips and quotes from the interview.
The moment highlighted Field’s enduring cultural relevance and her ability to transform what could have been an awkward anecdote into a moment of human connection and levity.
A Life Lived Fully — Both Onscreen and Off
Field, now in her late seventies, has forged a career defined by powerful performances, emotional honesty, and a willingness to reveal the lived experience behind the glamour of Hollywood.
From breakout films like Norma Rae and Places in the Heart, for which she won Academy Awards, to television triumphs and stage work, Field has never shied away from roles that demand vulnerability and depth — traits that she has also brought to her personal storytelling.
Her candidness about her personal life — including relationships like the one with Reynolds — reminds audiences that actors are constantly navigating complex relationships both on and off the screen, and that the stories behind the stories can be as compelling as the performances themselves.
Her reflections on the past don’t diminish her career; they enrich it, inviting fans to see not just the star but the human being behind each role.
Legacy and Lessons
Looking back on her confession and the broader arc of her life and relationships, one of the clearest themes is this: Sally Field champions honesty, courage, and personal growth.
Whether she’s talking about an awkward on‑screen kiss or the deeper emotional impacts of a long‑ago romance, she speaks with a blend of humor and wisdom that resonates because it feels authentic.
Her anecdote about Burt Reynolds’s kissing technique may have sparked laughter, but it also offers insight into how memory and experience — even those that are uncomfortable — shape a person’s perspective over time.
It is a testament to the idea that life’s most memorable moments aren’t always perfect — sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re awkward, and sometimes they’re deeply human.
Conclusion
Sally Field’s candid revelation about her “worst on‑screen kiss” remains a memorable pop‑culture moment not because of gossip but because it reveals her unique ability to blend humor, honesty, and reflection — qualities that have defined her career and public persona.
Field reminded audiences that even Hollywood icons have off‑camera complexities behind storied careers — and that those personal stories, told with truth and grace, are often as fascinating as the films and performances that made them famous.
