Sally Field’s unforgettable performance in Norma Rae (1979) firmly established her as one of Hollywood’s finest actresses. Her portrayal of a determined textile worker fighting for workers’ rights not only earned her an Academy Award but also left audiences in awe. Yet behind the scenes, the journey to that iconic performance was filled with emotional struggles, self-doubt, and even a few broken ribs.
Sally’s role in Norma Rae showcased the fight for essential workers’ rights, like the 40-hour workweek, healthcare, holidays, and safety laws—rights that unions have fought for over time. Sally Field’s portrayal of Norma Rae, a woman standing up for her rights and the rights of her coworkers, still resonates today as a reminder of how far we’ve come.
Her powerful performance likely inspired future actresses like Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich and Meryl Streep in Silkwood. However, the price Sally paid for this performance was much steeper than most know.
The Role Against Burt Reynolds’ Advice
Before Norma Rae, Sally Field was struggling to shake off her early TV roles, like The Flying Nun and Gidget. Hollywood didn’t take her seriously, and she was determined to prove herself. When the role of Norma Rae Webster came up, Sally saw it as her chance to redefine her career. But this decision wasn’t easy—especially when it came to her relationship with then-boyfriend, superstar Burt Reynolds.
Burt, who had already been a prominent figure in Hollywood, didn’t support Sally’s choice to take on such a role. He famously told her, “No lady of mine is gonna play a whore.” When Sally tried to explain it was just a role, Reynolds mocked her saying, “Oh, so now you’re an actor… you’re letting your ambition get the better of you.”
His unsupportive attitude was hurtful, but Sally was determined to go forward with the part.
Sally recalled her fear when she first watched Norma Rae in a small screening room at Fox Studios with her mother. She couldn’t shake the overwhelming worry that she might not be enough to hold an audience for two hours. “What flashed through my head was the fear that I wasn’t enough,” she said, reflecting on that moment.
A Changing Relationship with Burt Reynolds
Sally and Burt’s relationship had begun on a high note when he asked her to star in Smokey and the Bandit. The chemistry between them was immediate and intense, but it quickly turned into something much darker. Burt began to “housebreak” Sally, controlling what she could and couldn’t do, which led her to feel like a “shadow” of herself.
His constant criticism of her role in Norma Rae was just another example of his lack of support.
Despite Burt’s disapproval, Sally pushed forward with the role, and by the final day of filming, Burt showed up on set and unexpectedly proposed with a diamond ring. Sally, feeling detached from the moment, declined. The awkwardness was clear, and she could only muster a soft “thank you.”
As filming ended, Sally began to feel more confident and independent. The role of Norma Rae sparked a change in her personality, making her feel more alive than ever. But this transformation did not sit well with Burt. He responded with “shocked disapproval,” signaling the end of their relationship.
Immersing Herself in the Role
Norma Rae was inspired by the real-life story of Crystal Lee Sutton, a courageous textile worker from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, who fought to establish a workers’ union at a J.P. Stevens textile mill.
Sally took her preparation seriously, fully immersing herself in the world of Southern mill workers. She and actor Beau Bridges spent time working in a factory to understand the physical and emotional toll the workers experienced.
Sally explained, “I worked in the mill every day for two weeks; not all day long, I didn’t have an 8-hour shift, but I felt like it. I guarantee, two hours in that weaving room felt like 8 hours anywhere else.” The vibrations from the machines made it hard to stand, and many actors and crew members couldn’t believe how tough the work was.
Filming in Opelika, Alabama
Although the real-life story of Crystal Lee Sutton took place in North Carolina, the film was shot in Opelika, Alabama. The town was buzzing with excitement as Hollywood arrived.
Local factory workers were hired for the scenes, and the Opelika Manufacturing Corp. was transformed into a textile mill for the movie. Even though the mill had been in Opelika since 1900, it was closed in 2004 and demolished in 2016.
Sally Field had an impact on the community, and many locals remembered her fondly. Warner Williams from the Opelika Chamber of Commerce recalled, “She was a lovely lady. Days before filming, she wore old ragged clothes and hung around the mill, psyching up for her character.”
The Real Norma Rae: Crystal Lee Sutton
Crystal Lee Sutton’s life was tough. Born on December 31, 1940, she grew up in a town where workers were treated as second-class citizens. Despite this, she began working at the age of 16 and fought hard for workers’ rights.
She made headlines in 1973 when she was fired from her job at J.P. Stevens for her pro-union activism. At the time, she was a 33-year-old mother of three, working for $2.65 an hour.
Crystal’s bravery was acknowledged by the director of Norma Rae, Martin Ritt, who once said, “I’ve known a lot of women in my life, most of them much more educated and sophisticated, who would not have had the balls that she had.”
However, when the film was released, Crystal wasn’t thrilled with the result. She found it more like a “soap-opera love story” rather than an educational movie about unionizing. Despite her concerns, the movie was a hit, but Crystal didn’t see a dime. She eventually sued 20th Century-Fox, settling for $52,000.
Her husband, Preston Sutton, expressed his admiration for her courage, saying, “I’m proud of what she done and what she stood for. You better damn well believe there’s a lot of people that would like to have the guts to do what she did.”
The Meeting of Crystal Lee Sutton and Sally Field
In 1980, Crystal Lee Sutton and Sally Field met at a reception in California, where they posed for cameras, hands raised in a moment of shared triumph. Crystal recalled, “We talked about children… She told me if ever there was anything she could do for me, let her know.”
Sally Field’s portrayal of Crystal Lee Sutton in Norma Rae remains one of the most powerful performances in film history. Sally’s dedication to the role was reflected in the movie’s success, but it didn’t come without sacrifice. The movie showed the strength of a woman who fought for her beliefs, just as Sally Field fought to prove herself as an actress.
The Union Sign Scene
One of the most famous scenes in Norma Rae is when Sally’s character writes “UNION” on a piece of cardboard and stands on a table to make a bold statement. This act was directly inspired by Crystal Lee Sutton’s real-life protest in 1978.
In the film, Norma Rae is fired after attempting to copy a racist letter. Refusing to leave, she writes “UNION” on a cardboard and holds it up for all to see, which leads her coworkers to stop their machines in support.
Crystal herself recalled the moment, saying, “I took a piece of cardboard and wrote the word UNION on it… The workers started cutting their machines off and giving me the victory sign.”
The Broken Ribs
Sally Field threw herself into her role so completely that she even ended up breaking a rib during a struggle scene where she was being pushed into a police car. This was a tough moment, but it showed just how far Sally was willing to go for her craft.
When Sally won the Academy Award for Best Actress, her emotions were overwhelming. Despite everything she had been through, she finally received the recognition she deserved.
However, her relationship with Burt Reynolds had ended by then, and he didn’t attend the ceremony with her. When Sally told him she was going to the Cannes Film Festival, he responded dismissively, saying, “You don’t expect to win anything, do you?” It was a harsh reminder of their troubled relationship.
Thankfully, David Steinberg and his wife, Judy, came to Sally’s aid, making her journey to the Oscars a memorable celebration.
A Legacy of Strength and Sacrifice
More than four decades later, Norma Rae remains a powerful film about workers’ rights, and Sally Field’s performance continues to inspire. Her portrayal of a determined woman fighting for what’s right mirrors her own real-life struggles, proving that success isn’t given—it’s fought for, just like Norma Rae herself.
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