Parents divorced when she was 5.

Her performance as Norma Rae Webster in Norma Rae (1979) is ranked #73 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Has two sons from her first marriage: novelist Peter Craig and actor/director Eli Craig. Has one son, Samuel, from her second marriage.

Mentioned in the theme song of the 1980s TV hit "The Fall Guy" (1981).

Auditioned for the role of Elaine Robinson in The Graduate (1967).

In Punchline (1988) she plays Tom Hanks's love interest. In Forrest Gump (1994) they play mother and son.

In 1998, became a grandmother to Isabel.

Was asked to play the lead in Moonstruck (1987).

Graduate of Birmingham High School, Van Nuys, California, Class of 1964 with Michael Ovitz. Michael Ovitz later became her agent. Field's class voted her "Class Clown".

Romantically linked to Burt Reynolds for several years.

Measurements: 33-23-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Protested alongside fellow actresses Jane Fonda, Christine Lahti, and playwright Eve Ensler urging the Mexican government to re-investigate the slaying of hundreds of women in Ciudad Juarez, on the Mexico-Texas border. (February 2004).

Born to Richard Dryden Field, a US Army Captain, and his wife Margaret Field, a contract player with Paramount Pictures starring in B movies. The couple divorced in 1950.

While filming the scene in Norma Rae (1979) where she is dragged out to the police car, she struggled and kicked so hard that she broke the rib of one of the men playing a police officer.

Good friends with Goldie Hawn and a longtime friend of Pat Mitchell.

Daughter of actress Margaret Field. Ex-stepdaughter of actor Jock Mahoney.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989

Has three films on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are: Places in the Heart (1984) at #95, Forrest Gump (1994) at #37, and Norma Rae (1979) at #16.

Her Oscar winning performance as Norma Rae Webster from her film Norma Rae (1979) was ranked #15 on the American Film Institute's Heroes list in their compilation of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villians.

As of 2008, she is only one of six actors who have a 2-0 winning record when nominated for an acting Oscar. The others are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937); Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Helen Hayes for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Airport (1970); Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999); and Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).

Half-sister of Princess O'Mahoney.

Has an older brother.

Made two different appearances as a contestant on "The Dating Game" (1965).

Dated Burt Reynolds for many years, but refused his numerous proposals, and they eventually broke up.

Auditioned for the role of Alice in Friday the 13th (1980) but lost to Adrienne King

Favorite movie is Smokey and the Bandit (1977).