From Gidget to Nora Walker: The gays love Sally Field...
Sally Field was the queen of Outfest yesterday as she joined fellow cast members and the directors, writers and producer of her ABC hit show "Brothers & Sisters," a show on which Sally plays the mother of mother of five adult children - including a gay attorney named Kevin.
So we love her for that, for that Emmy nominated portrayal of the strong and spirited Nora Walker. But there was much more to the heartfelt ovation Field received from the capacity crowd at the Directors Guild of America when she was introduced, Fiield is a survivor and we gay men love someone who is an underdog and prevaills. In Sally's case, we've watched her go from television star in lightweight shows like "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun" to two-time Oscar winner for "Norma Rae" and "Place of the Heart" as well as two-time Emmy winner for "Sybil" and "ER."
But let's get real: she REALLY won each and every one of us over when she played M'Lynn in "Steel Magnolias," a part so many of us know by heart: "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!!!!" Then she gave us "Soapdish" where she was so much fun and now "Brothers & Sisters."
"I started in television in 1964," Field told the Outfest audience. "Oh my God have things changed. Oh my God. I started in 'Gidget' in 1964 and there was no sexuality - I didn't even have a belly button...The difference between 1964 and 2007 is certainly amazing but we still have a long ways to go in many areas. But my God, it's mind-boggling."
The actress said the character of Nora wants her gay son "to find somebody to love who will treat him - like I treat him!"...Everybody's always making jokes about his inability to keep a guy. But what he has to go through is never ignored."
An audience member reminded Field of her only 1970s series, "The Girl With Something Extra" where she played a young wife with psychic abilities. The audience member asked her if she remembered the show and she said, in a clipped voice: "Yes. I also did 'Smokey and the Bandit 2.' Yes, go ahead. Great question so far."
Then someone asked her about her former co-star on "The Flying Nun," Alejandro Rey, being a gay man. He played Carlos on the 1960s sitcom.
"To this moment, I didn't know he was gay. Really? Carlos was gay?"
She went on to say how difficult it must have been for the actor to have to be closeted in the 60s. But she couldn't shake off her surprise. As the panel was wrapping up, Field looked at the audience and said: "Carlos was GAY?"
Miss Field briefly attended the post-panel reception, just long enough for my friend Trevor and I to get a photo with her.. I'll share that tommorrow along with a lengthy recap of the "Brothers & Sisters" panel.
About Out
in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez, Page 2 "News Lite" columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News, gives you a fly-on-the-wall account of the Oscars and other awards show, movie premieres, film festivals and various star-studded events. He also shares his celebrity interviews as well as specially-selected videos and photos. He writes about all things pop culture through a gay man's eyes ...
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