Sally Field is an inspiration to actresses everywhere, having bagged two Oscars for her roles in Norma Rae and Places in the Heart. Those accolades alone should mean that Field shouldn't have to beg to be considered for an audition, at least, and yet that's exactly what happened when she lobbied for the part of Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning biopic. So, why, exactly, did Steven Spielberg, one of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers, initially reject Field, one of Hollywood's most respected actresses? On account of her being too old, actually. "I'm 10 years older than Daniel and 20 years older than Abraham Lincoln's wife was and Steven told me he didn't see me in the role," she revealed in an interview. "But I knew I was right for this part and begged him to let me audition for it. He was kind enough to do that and Daniel is such a sweetheart that he flew over from his home in Ireland to screen test with me. I'll love him forever for that." Of course, Field's casting paid off; aside from being a wonderful Mary Todd, she won a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
