The stories of two women we have lived with for decades are arriving in the midst of the #Metoo movement. They once seemed the epitome of strong, brave role models. But we now get fuller pictures, filled with self-doubts and men who loved them but also demeaned them and left them seeking more respect. And ultimately, independence.
Sally Field’s memoir has just been released, welcomed with positive reviews. At the same time, a two-hour documentary on the life (or lives) of Jane Fonda has premiered on HBO.
Yet more accolades for the actresses, who have never worked together but are good friends. Small wonder, as the parallels between their histories are uncanny. They are women we have admired for their work, their longevity and their willingness to stretch. Now, after we have watched, and read, their painfully honest stories, they earn our sympathy as well.
A good part of Field’s book, “In Pieces,” deals with sexual abuse by her stepfather. Fonda’s story is colored by her father’s limited emotional ability. Between the two, they have had five divorces and other broken relationships. They were often as accomplished as their mates, but always made to feel subservient. Though there was one man who, arguably, saved them both, and paved the way for their two-time Oscar-winning careers.
That would be Lee Strasberg, who famously ran The Actors Studio. His storied technique was about using the traumas in your life to embellish the characters you portray. When Field showed up at the Studio, she had just completed a successful three-season run as “The Flying Nun.” (Which she did against her will. Among other things, she was made to fly onto the stage at the Golden Globes.)
Strasberg asked why she — who was working regularly, unlike most his students — was there. She explained she was ready to learn to act, and she became one of his most devoted and praised followers.
Fonda was doing superficial dizzy parts as a very young woman when she knocked on Strasberg’s door and asked if she could give his classes a try. She hid in the back of the studio for months before finally tackling a scene. The master teacher told her she had real talent and those words proved the necessary encouragement.
Nevertheless, both women dealt with lifelong personal insecurities. They struggled on the physical front. Field ate emotionally, went up and down, while Fonda purged and binged and almost starved for decades. They both juggled careers with motherhood and were left with recurring regrets. “I wanted my daughter to know why I wasn’t a better parent…I get so sad,” says Fonda in the documentary. “I cannot fool myself into thinking that I have been a perfect parent,” writes Field.
For whatever reason, they spent most of their lives feeling they weren’t good enough. “If I’m not perfect, no one can love me,” was Fonda’s mantra for much of her life. Field was mocked for her “You like me!” Oscar speech. But reading the book, those words become more understandable.
The women were clearly influenced by the men in their lives but both Field’s book and the Fonda film end with the stars’ each trying to come to terms with misunderstood mothers. Fonda was never told that hers had committed suicide, later learning the news in a magazine. Only recently did she discover that “my mother was the life of the party” (until her bipolar disorder kicked in) — and that helped Fonda immensely. “The defining moment of Jane’s life was the death of her mother,” says Paula Weinstein, the actress’ best friend.
Field finally confronted her mother about the abuse she suffered, and learned she had known about some of it. Yet, the actress writes, “She was my devoted, perfectly imperfect mother. I loved her profoundly and I will miss her every day of my life.”
Field and Fonda’s careers have been close to exemplary, often brave. Field fought past her sitcom persona. She returned to the medium for stellar works like “Sybil” (for which she won an Emmy) and much later, the series “Brothers and Sisters” (for which she also won an Emmy). She did a few Broadway shows and has just announced she’ll be performing in Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” in London next year.
Fonda moved past sexy and silly material with “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” and many more of substance to follow. Several years ago, she also did a Broadway run. And she is now in the funny and resonant Netflix series, “Grace and Frankie.”
Resonant is a key word here. Sally Field and Jane Fonda seemed to have all the things many of us dream of, and yet by baring all, as now-single women, they have somehow become entirely relatable. #ThemToo.
50 Actresses Over 50 Who Still Rule Hollywood (Photos)
The Australian Oscar winner has kept busy with blockbusters ("Aquaman"), award-winning indies ("Boy Erased") and TV hits like HBO's "Big Little Lies" and "The Undoing."
After starring in 2015's "Cinderella," this Oscar nominee reprised a different Disney role as the Red Queen in "Alice Through the Looking Glass." And then won acclaim on Netflix's "The Crown."
A Golden Globe-winning actress, Wright played Claire Underwood in Netflix’s "House of Cards" and appeared in 2017's "Wonder Woman" and "Blade Runner 2049."
Aside from the fact that she's the only black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress, she recently starred in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" and two movies in the "Kingsman" series.
An accomplished SAG and Emmy winner, Davis starred in ABC’s hit series "How to Get Away With Murder" and the two "Suicide Squad" movies (including a 2021 sequel). She also starred in the 2020 drama "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Following the enormous success of her breakout series "Sex and the City," Jessica Parker starred in a string of romantic comedies. She starred in HBO's comedy "Divorce."
The Oscar nominee has been busy, voicing the mother in Pixar's "Inside Out," playing Cleo Trumbo in "Trumbo," and Martha Kent in 2013's "Man of Steel" and 2016's "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice." She starred opposite Kevin Costner in 2020's "Let Him Go."
Since the '80s, Fox has made a name for herself in both film and TV, including appearances in Fox's "Empire," "Independence Day: Resurgence" and Lifetime's series of "Wrong" movies.
The Oscar-winning Tomei maintains a tireless work ethic, playing roles in "The Big Short," "Captain America: Civil War," and the Tom Holland "Spider-Man" movies.
Since the end of ABC's "Cougar Town," Cox returned to acting in 2016's "Mothers and Daughters"and made her directorial debut with 2014's "Just Before I Go."
After turning heads in "The Passion of the Christ" and two of the three "Matrix" films, the Italian actress returned to the silver screen as a Bond girl in 2015's "Spectre." And then starred as Italian photographer Tina Modotti in the miniseries "Radical Eye."
The Golden Globe winner maintained some of her post-"Weeds" success with roles in 2018's "Red Sparrow" and on shows like NBC’s "The Blacklist" and Audience's "Mr. Mercedes."
This three-time Oscar and Tony nominee is working hard, with big roles in shows like "Ozark," "Tales of the City" and Viggo Mortensen's film "Falling."
Having appeared on several TV shows since the '90s, Hargitay is best known as Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: SVU" and for founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to women who have been sexually abused.
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Ming-Na Wen (birthdate: 11/20/63)
In addition to being the enchanting voice of the heroine in Disney's "Mulan," Wen is known for her roles on "Stargate Universe," Disney+'s "The Mandalorian" and ABC's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Since her days as a "Friends" leading lady, Kudrow has been active in film and TV, playing characters in Netflix’s "BoJack Horseman," "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," the 2019 indie hit "Booksmart" and the Netflix comedy "Space Force."
The "As Good As It Gets" actress drew acclaim in 2012 for her role in Sundance favorite "The Sessions" and recently starred in the sitcom reboot "Mad About You."
Even after the end of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and the short-lived "666 Park Avenue," Williams has kept working with projects like "Daytime Divas" and Justin Simien's 2020 film "Bad Hair."
Whiledoing charity work for her anti-sex-trafficking foundation Thorn, Moore has returned to the screen in TV projects like "Empire," "Animals." and "Brave New World."
After appearing in "Elysium" and "Carnage," the Oscar-winning actress took a break from acting and returned to directing with 2016's "Money Monster" starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts and an episode of "Black Mirror." She then appeared in front of the camera in 2020's "Prisoner 760."
With a career that spans four decades, Jason Leigh earned an Oscar nomination for 2015's "The Hateful Eight," then starred in shows like "Twin Peaks," "Patrick Melrose" and "Atypical" as well as movies like 2020's "The Woman in the Window."
Despite the 2016 cancellation of her short-lived sitcom "Angel from Hell," Lynch has made strides in the past few years, hosting NBC's "Hollywood Game Night" and earning Emmy attention for "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."
Having appeared in both mainstream and art-house films, Moore received acclaim for her Oscar-winning performance in "Still Alice." She followed with showy roles in 2020's "The Woman in the Window" and Julie Taymor's "The Glorias."
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Lorraine Toussaint (birthdate: 04/04/60)
Starting her career in theater before transitioning into film and TV, Toussaint has appeared in Ava DuVernay's "Selma" and the short-lived Fox series "Forever." She's also received praise for her work as Vee in Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" and series like "Into the Badlands" and "The Village."
One of Hollywood and Britain's most accomplished performers, Thompson appeared in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast," Mindy Kaling's "Late Night" in 2019 and 2021's "Cruella."
An actress known for her roles in horror films and the 2003 comedy "Freaky Friday," Lee Curtis has lately appeared on screen in 2018's "Halloween" reboot and 2019's "Knives Out."
Though she's known primarily for her film roles, including her turn in Spike Lee's 2016 drama "Chi-Raq" and 2018's "Black Panther," Bassett is a TV regular, particularly in FX's anthology series "American Horror Story" and "9-1-1."
In addition to being a TV personality, a two-time Oscar host and an LGBTQ advocate, DeGeneres found time to reprise her role as the forgetful blue tang in Pixar's 2016 hit "Finding Dory," the sequel to 2003's "Finding Nemo."
The Georgia-born Oscar winner returned to film in 2012 after a seven-year hiatus, and has since had roles in "The Big Sick," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and TV shows like "Here and Now" and "Succession."
Known for her early '90s roles in "Sex, Lies, & Videotape," "Groundhog Day," and "Four Weddings and a Funeral," MacDowell has appeared in recent films like "Only the Brave" and 2019's "Ready or Not."
The three-time Academy Award nominee appeared in 2015's acclaimed "Room" and ABC's mystery melodrama "The Family" as well as Apple TV+'s "Lisey's Story."
Russo, a Vogue model-turned-BAFTA nominated actress, juggled lots of roles in recent movies, including Marvel's "Thor," the neo-noir thriller "Nightcrawler" the Nancy Meyers comedy "The Intern" and 2019's "Velvet Buzzsaw."
The actress and producer has kept busy since ending her long-running daytime talk show, overseeing her OWN network and appearing in series like "Greenleaf" and movies such as "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and "A Wrinkle in Time."
The Golden Globe and SAG-winning actress starred in the 2016 crime comedy caper "The Nice Guys" and had a big role in the last two "Fifty Shades" movies.
A well-known character actress, Steenburgen has appeared in several TV shows (Fox’s "The Last Man on Earth," Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black") and films ("Song One," "A Walk in the Woods"). She starred in the 2016 drama "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" and 2018's "Book Club."
Since her breakthrough role in 1973’s “Live and Let Die,” Seymour has kept busy in projects like the 2016 spoof movie "Fifty Shades of Black" and the CW’s "Jane the Virgin."
One of the most recognized and active women working in Hollywood today, Streep is keeping her acclaimed acting streak alive. Recent projects include "The Post," "Little Women," Netflix's "The Prom" and HBO's "Big Little Lies."
The "Ghostbusters" alum has been in 12 movies since 2010, ranging from "Chappie" to "The Cabin in the Woods." She had a cameo in 2016's female-led remake of "Ghostbusters" and stars in James Cameron's upcoming "Avatar" sequels.
A multiple Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG winner, Lange has been drawing acclaim since the '80s, especially for her performance in FX’s "American Horror Story."
Since her breakout debut in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part II," Coll has had recurring TV roles in shows like "Switched at Birth," "Glee" and "Teen Wolf." She starred as Alba Villanueva in the CW's "Jane the Virgin."
The "Fatal Attraction" star garnered praise and an Oscar nomination for 2017's "The Wife" and has clocked roles in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies as well as 2020's "Hillbilly Elegy."
The Oscar winner is another one of Hollywood's biggest and most active actresses, including memorable turns in recent movies like the "Red" and "Fast & Furious" series as well as shows like "Catherine the Great."
Cicely Tyson is in her 90s and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Most recently, she's starred in notable films like "The Help," and had recurring roles on "House of Cards" and "How to Get Away With Murder."
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Nicole Kidman joins Robin Wright, Viola Davis, and Laura Linney among the stars making waves on screen
Mary Murphy is magazine and TV journalist and an associate professor at the USC Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism. Michele Willens is a New York-based writer and NPR theater commentator. They are writing a book on the history of entertainment journalism.