Sally Field Recalls ‘Traumatic’ Abortion Experience

Sally Field Recalls 'Traumatic' Abortion Experience

As a seasoned film critic who has witnessed the evolution of Hollywood from the Golden Age to the Digital Age, I find myself deeply moved by Sally Field‘s latest public revelation. The Oscar-winning actress, whose career spans six decades, has shared her personal abortion story as a testament to women’s healthcare and reproductive rights.


Renowned actress Sally Field is openly discussing her personal abortion history as part of her commitment to women’s health and reproductive freedom. In a post reaching her 18 million followers, this esteemed figure from Hollywood reminisced about an unexpected pregnancy and encouraged voters to back Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Initially, details about her abortion were disclosed in her 2018 memoir titled “In Pieces“. However, she returned to this topic in a heartfelt Instagram video on Oct. 6. In this video, the renowned actress discusses her upbringing during the 1950s and the societal constraints women faced back then. She recounts getting pregnant as a teenager and having an illegal abortion at 17. She expresses gratitude to her courageous family doctor who put his medical license on the line by driving her to Tijuana, Mexico, for the procedure – surprisingly, without administering any painkillers.

During the procedure, a technician kept administering ether, only to withdraw it intermittently. This left my limbs sensationally numb yet fully aware of the pain, causing an odd feeling. It wasn’t until I suspected inappropriate behavior from the technician that I had to find a way to move my arms to push him away, which left me in a profound sense of shame.

In the video, Field confessed that she felt hopeless about her future following high school graduation. However, when she discovered she was pregnant, she was swamped with doubts. “I had no options in life,” she explained on Instagram. “I didn’t have much family support or money. No one ever suggested college to me. Nothing.” The actress from Forrest Gump put it this way: “I didn’t know who I was going to become, and then I found out I was pregnant.

Sally Field Booked Her Breakout Role Shortly After

Approximately several months following the abortion, Field landed her debut significant role in the short-lived sitcom “Gidget”. This show revolved around a teenage girl infatuated with boys and her widowed father, played by Don Porter. The series ran for one season on ABC from 1965 to 1966. Field admitted that her Hollywood persona was starkly different from what her actual life experiences were at the time.

A few months later, I started trying out for roles. At the time, I didn’t have an agent and wasn’t considered a professional actor, but I had been involved in acting throughout high school. After several auditions, by the end of that year, I was cast as Gidget – the epitome of the wholesome, all-American girl living next door.

Over the course of my six-decade career, Jane Fonda has garnered countless accolades that truly set her apart in the world of acting. As a mother myself, I can deeply relate to her feelings when she spoke at the 2012 Human Rights Campaign dinner, declaring her sons Peter, Eli, and Sam as the three things she is most proud of in life. Peter, now 54, and Eli, 52, are the fruits of her first marriage with Steven Craig, while her second husband, Alan Greisman, shares the joy of raising 36-year-old Sam.

In the title of her Instagram video, Field expresses hesitation about revisiting a troubling abortion experience, but feels compelled to share her thoughts as discussions on women’s health care become more intense.

In my opinion, numerous women from my era have experienced comparable, distressing incidents. Thinking about them gives me strength. I suspect, just as I do, they yearn to advocate for their grandkids and every young woman in our nation.

Field’s account of her personal abortion experience contributes to the ongoing country-wide discussion on safeguarding women’s health care as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The actress urges everyone, “Take notice of this election at all levels, in every state – particularly those with initiatives that might secure reproductive rights. PLEASE. WE CANNOT TURN BACK!

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2024-10-08 22:03