Sally Field Says She ‘Couldn’t Have Done’ First Wives Club, Looks Back on ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’
Sally Field has no shortage of iconic roles — but there’s one beloved ’90s comedy she turned down. Field opened up about passing on a part in 1996’s First Wives Club and reflected on why 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire still resonates with audiences decades later.
Field was offered the role of Annie Paradis in First Wives Club, a part that ultimately went to Diane Keaton. She didn’t mince words about why.
“I loved all those actors,” Field told Parade in an interview published April 25. “But I did turn it down.”
Why Didn’t Sally Field Like the ‘First Wives Club’ Story?
“I have always had a problem with older women either wanting to get a date or looking to, like, you know, have more sex with their husband,” she said. “I just feel like there’s more for women to say, so that was just never my cup of tea.”
First Wives Club, based on the 1992 novel, follows three college friends who reunite at the funeral of a fourth friend who died by suicide after being left by her husband for a younger woman. The reunion stirs up their shared experiences — all three have been divorced by husbands who left them for younger partners. They form a pact to get even, revealing their exes’ double standards and taking back their autonomy.
The women ultimately realize they want more than just revenge. They shift their focus toward empowerment and solidarity, using their resources to support other women in similar situations. It ends with the cast performing a rendition of “You Don’t Own Me.”
That finale was another deal-breaker for Field.
“I couldn’t have done that role, because I don’t sing and they all do at the end.”
The film scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. Keaton led the cast alongside Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Stockard Channing, Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley and Marcia Gay Harden.
Keaton died on October 11, 2025, at age 79 from primary bacterial pneumonia.
Field made clear she held no regrets about the decision — or about who replaced her.
“I would never have been as good. I mean, it was absolutely right for Keaton — not for me,” Field remarked.
Why ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Still Holds Up Decades Later
Among Field’s greatest hits is 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire. The film also stars the late Robin Williams as Daniel Hillard, a divorced dad who disguises himself as an elderly British nanny to secretly spend time with his children after losing custody. Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence and Mara Wilson round out the cast.
As his double life spins out of control, Daniel is forced to face difficult truths about accountability, fatherhood, and the real reasons his marriage ended. Meanwhile, his ex-wife—played by Field—becomes increasingly self-reliant, heightening the strain between them. Eventually, Daniel can’t keep up the deception, as his Mrs. Doubtfire alter ego takes on a life of its own, veering into chaos with a hint of self-sabotage.
Field said she is not surprised the movie still connects with audiences decades later.
“The movie is about something really valid and important,” she told Parade in a story published April 26. “It’s a lot of laughter, but it’s about the difficulties of divorce for children and how ultimately, the mom and the dad can get divorced and the kids will still be OK. Kids need to know this—they need to know that sometimes divorce is the very best thing because sometimes when moms and dads feel they need to stay together for the kids, it’s a bad message.”
Sally Field’s Latest Movie
Fans will next see Field in Remarkably Bright Creatures, an adaptation of the novel by Shelby Van Pelt. The film also stars Meghan Heffern, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, Laura Harris and Alfred Molina. It’s due out next month.
The story follows Tova, a lonely widow who works the night shift at an aquarium, where she forms an unusual bond with a clever octopus named Marcellus. As their connection deepens, the story weaves together Tova’s grief, a young man searching for his past and a mystery that gradually brings their lives together in an unexpected way.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
