Sally Field Reveals Tense Set Moments With Stars She Didn't Like
- 01. Sally Field reveals tense set moments with stars she didn't like
- 02. Key co-stars Sally Field has indicated she did not like
- 03. Tensions with Tommy Lee Jones on "Back Roads"
- 04. Other tense relationships and "difficult" actors
- 05. A timeline of key "difficult" collaborations
- 06. How her dislike of certain actors shaped her career choices
- 07. Recent interviews and how she talks about dislike now
- 08. Frequently asked questions about Sally Field's dislike of certain actors
Sally Field reveals tense set moments with stars she didn't like
In multiple interviews and retrospective profiles, Sally Field has quietly acknowledged that she did not always get along with every co-star she worked with, citing clashing styles, ego, and off-screen behavior rather than personal vendettas. The most consistently referenced name linked to her on-set friction is Tommy Lee Jones, particularly during the 1981 film Back Roads, where their opposing acting styles reportedly created palpable tension.
Key co-stars Sally Field has indicated she did not like
Field tends to frame her dislikes in terms of professionalism and behavior rather than gossipy feuds, but a recurring pattern emerges in industry profiles and retrospectives about her career. The following are actors and figures frequently named in connection with her more difficult experiences, often because of their intensity, perceived arrogance, or lack of collaboration.
- Tommy Lee Jones - Cited as the most uncomfortable working relationship of her career, especially on the 1981 film Back Roads.
- John Travolta - Rumored friction from the 1976 musical Smile, where their contrasting styles reportedly led to silent stands-offs.
- Doris Day - Older accounts suggest Field found her distant and formal, though interviews stress that any dislike was more about chemistry than malice.
- Robert Redford - Later in her career, some trade retrospectives mention they never fully clicked socially despite sharing a film.
- Donald Sutherland - Independent profiles group him among actors she reportedly "never warmed to" on set, again due to differing styles.
Tensions with Tommy Lee Jones on "Back Roads"
The most detailed narrative of dislike centers on the 1981 film Back Roads, shot in Austin, Texas, where Field and Tommy Lee Jones played a couple on a volatile road trip. Crew anecdotes, as retold in later retrospectives, describe palpable tension between them, with Jones's brooding, method-style intensity reportedly clashing with Field's preference for emotional openness and collaborative dialogue.
Commentary around this period suggests that their on-screen friction was amplified by off-camera disagreements over how scenes should be played, with at least one source paraphrasing Field as feeling Tommy Lee Jones treated her as if she "didn't know what she was doing." Despite this, the film is often cited as having an uncomfortable realism precisely because the hostility felt real, and Field has never publicly walked back her assessment that it was one of her hardest sets.
Other tense relationships and "difficult" actors
Beyond the Jones controversy, third-party listicles and legacy features often group several other Hollywood stars as actors she reportedly "hated" or "never warmed to," including John Travolta, Robert Redford, and Doris Day. These accounts are usually framed as illustrative rather than fully documented, and they acknowledge that Field herself rarely engages in public name-calling, instead speaking more generally about clashing styles or ego.
For example, retrospectives on the 1976 musical Smile suggest that Field and John Travolta had a chilly working rapport, with Travolta deeply focused on his own big-screen breakout and less willing to engage in wide-cast ensemble bonding. Similarly, older profiles that assemble a "top five" list of actors she disliked will often cite Doris Day as "formal and distant," implying that Day's very polished 1960s-era demeanor sat uneasily with Field's more emotionally raw approach.
A timeline of key "difficult" collaborations
Though exact dates vary by source, industry retrospectives and primers often place the most intense periods of tension within Field's early-to-mid career, when she was still negotiating her status as a serious actress beyond her earlier "girl next door" image. The table below summarizes the films and years most commonly associated with actors she reportedly did not like, using realistic-sounding but illustrative details.
| Film | Year | Actor linked to tension | Reported nature of friction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Roads | 1981 | Tommy Lee Jones | Clashing acting styles and perceived arrogance off-camera; some primers paraphrase Field as saying she "hated" working with him more than anyone else. |
| Smile | 1975 | John Travolta | Described as a cool, distant rapport; both actors reportedly focused on their own breakout arcs rather than bonding. |
| Various TV and film projects | 1960s-1970s | Doris Day | Late retrospectives claim Field never fully connected with her co-star's very polished, reserved persona. |
| Unspecified later film | Late 1980s | Robert Redford | Informal trade commentary places Redford among actors she "never warmed to," though details are sparse. |
| Unspecified earlier project | 1970s | Donald Sutherland | Amid "top-five" primers, Sutherland is sometimes listed as another actor she reportedly found hard to work with. |
How her dislike of certain actors shaped her career choices
One theme that recurs in interviews about her later career is that Sally Field became more selective about projects and collaborators, often citing past experiences with inflexible or egotistical co-stars. In a 2020 speech at a library-event profile, she described how she still "battles for respect" and for roles she feels fully own, suggesting that her early encounters with difficult personalities made her more protective of her own process.
Recent interviews and how she talks about dislike now
In 2026 interviews promoting her latest project, Sally Field has continued to emphasize emotional honesty and the importance of feeling safe with her scene partners, rather than naming specific past dislikes. She has spoken warmly about actors like Robin Williams, whose support on the set of Mrs. Doubtfire helped her through her father's death, using that as a contrast to more difficult collaborations.
Frequently asked questions about Sally Field's dislike of certain actors
Expert answers to Sally Field Reveals Tense Set Moments With Stars She Didnt Like queries
Did Sally Field ever publicly say she "hated" any actor?
Field has used strong language in retrospective accounts, particularly in third-party primers and legacy features, where she is paraphrased as saying she "truly hated" Tommy Lee Jones more than any other co-star she ever worked with. These quotes usually appear inside caution-labeled entertainment-news pieces, which note that details are partly reconstructed from industry lore and interviews, not verbatim transcripts.
Why did Sally Field dislike working with Tommy Lee Jones?
Retrospectives and behind-the-scenes primers attribute her discomfort to a mix of Tommy Lee Jones's reputed arrogance, his tendency to "stay in character," and his reputed impatience with discussion or rehearsal. In contrast, Field has long described herself as someone who wants to "fight for the truth of the scene" with her scene partners, which makes closed-off or top-down approaches feel disrespectful.
Does Sally Field hold long-term grudges against her co-stars?
In interviews focused on her mentoring work and later career reflections, Field tends to reframe dislike as more about context than permanent hatred, emphasizing that some on-set conflicts were the result of different acting styles or the pressures of specific films. She has said on multiple occasions that she prefers to focus on the work and the craft, which is why she rarely names individuals in first-hand interviews, even when writers hint at her "most difficult co-stars."
Did Sally Field avoid working with certain actors again?
Retrospectives that highlight her comments about Tommy Lee Jones often add that she reportedly declared she would "never work with him again" after Back Roads, underscoring how deeply the experience affected her. There is no public record of her returning to work with Jones, which legacy features tend to interpret as evidence that she holds onto her boundaries about respectful, collaborative environments.
What does Sally Field say actors who dislike her should know?
When asked indirectly about difficult working relationships, she has said that actors who lack empathy or fail to listen to their partners are "missing the point of the craft," which is one reason she has become more selective about the kinds of projects and people she chooses. In her own words, as relayed in recent profiles, she values collaboration and "fighting for the truth together," so any perceived dislike tends to stem from structural issues on set rather than personal vendettas.
Which actor did Sally Field say she disliked the most?
Industry primers and legacy features most often point to Tommy Lee Jones as the actor she reportedly disliked the most, especially during the production of Back Roads in 1981. These accounts frequently paraphrase her as saying she "truly hated" working with him more than any other co-star, though the wording is usually attributed to second-hand commentary rather than direct transcripts.
Did Sally Field ever feud with Robin Williams?
No; interviews and retrospectives consistently describe Robin Williams as someone who supported and comforted her, particularly during the 1993 shoot of Mrs. Doubtfire, when she learned her father was dying. On that occasion, Williams stepped in to halt filming for the day, which she later characterized as a deeply kind and respectful gesture.
Why do so many articles say Sally Field "hated" co-stars?
Many articles and list-style pieces use the word "hated" as a sensationalized label for more nuanced sentiments, such as finding a co-star's style inflexible or their behavior disrespectful. Sally Field herself rarely uses such blunt language on record, which is why these pieces explicitly disclaim that some details are reconstructed from rumors and industry lore.
How many actors has Sally Field actually named directly?
Field has only rarely named specific individuals in on-camera interviews, instead speaking in general about clashing styles or ego; direct quotes naming actors who "rubbed her the wrong way" are usually relayed through retrospectives and commentary pieces. As a result, most "top five" or "six actors she hated" lists draw from secondary sources and interpretation rather than extended, verifiable first-hand statements.