Sally Field Becomes Oldest Emmy Winner in Her Category and Shades Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: ‘Our Voices Matter’

Sally Field won the Emmy for lead actress in a limited or anthology series or TV movie on Sunday, recognizing her portrayal of Tova Sullivan in the Netflix film “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” At 79, she is the oldest actress to win in this category, edging out Jessica Tandy (“Foxfire” in 1987) by months.

This is Field’s 10th Emmy nomination and fourth win. She previously took home the gold for her roles in “Sybil” (1977), “ER” (2001) and “Brothers & Sisters” (2007).

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Field was shocked as she took the stage to accept her trophy, and squealed before beginning her speech. “This was not supposed to supposed to happen! OK, I gotta talk really, really quick.” But once she got going, she was fired up. “I have been so grateful and so proud to be a part of this community — the arts — for 62 years or something,” she continued. “With art, we matter. Our voices matter. Our diversity, our unique story telling matters.” Seemingly referencing the pending merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, she added, “We can’t let those voices be silenced or compromised or merged.”

Along with “Sybil,” “ER” and “Brothers & Sisters,” Field’s best-known credits include playing the title role in “Norma Rae” (1979) and Edna Spalding in “Places in the Heart” (1984), which both earned her Academy Awards, and Mary Todd Lincoln in “Lincoln” (2012), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

Also nominated for this year’s lead limited series or TV movie actress Emmy were Carey Mulligan (“Beef”), Sarah Pidgeon (“Remarkably Bright Creatures”), Claire Danes (“The Beast in Me”) and Sarah Snook (“All Her Fault”).