Sally Field recently confirmed that she passed on a major role in The First Wives Club
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The 79-year-old actress said the film’s themes didn’t align with the kinds of stories she wanted to tell
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Field also noted the role ultimately suited Diane Keaton better than it would her
Oscar-winning actressSally Fieldrecently opened up about a major role she once passed on, offering a candid look at how she evaluates the stories she chooses to tell.
While speaking toParade, she reflected on her long career and the decisions that shaped it, including the opportunity to star in the 1996 hitThe First Wives Club. Although the film became a commercial success with lasting popularity, Field ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit for her.
“I did turn it down. I loved all of those actors, but I have always had a problem with older women either wanting to get a date or looking to like, you know, have more sex with their husband,” Field told the outlet. “Or I just feel like there’s more for women to say, so that was just never my cup of tea.”
The First Wives Clubcenters on three divorced women who reunite and bond over their shared experiences of being left by their husbands for younger partners.
Starring Bette Midler,Goldie HawnandDiane Keaton, the film blends comedy with themes of revenge and empowerment as the trio schemes to reclaim their independence.
Keaton ultimately took on the role Field declined — Annie Paradis, a reserved and emotionally fragile character navigating heartbreak and self-worth.
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The film struck a chord with audiences, bolstered by its sharp humor and memorable performances, and even went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.
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Looking back, Field expressed confidence that the role simply wasn’t suited to her strengths.
“I couldn’t have done that role because I don’t sing, and they all did that at the end,” she told Parade. “I would never have been as good. I mean, it was absolutely right for Keaton, not for me."
In a 2023interview with PEOPLE, Field shared that although Hawn encouraged her to take the role, she ultimately couldn’t envision herself in it.
"Maybe it would have been fun, but they were all so musical, and I'm not," she admitted. "And the movie wouldn't have been the same."
Read the original article onPeople
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