Sally Field used her fourth Emmy Award acceptance speech to defend creative freedom and appear to criticise Paramount Skydance’s proposed purchase of Warner Bros.
Field won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The 79-year-old actor reacted theatrically when her name was announced by Emilia Clarke and Emma D’Arcy, rocking back and forth in her seat before making her way to the stage.
“No! No! This was not supposed to happen!” she said after reaching the microphone, adding that she would have to speak “really, really quick”.
After thanking Netflix and her co-stars Lewis Pullman and Alfred Molina, Field praised director Olivia Newman for filming the Pacific Northwest as though it were another character.
She then turned to Canada, saying: “And Canada, blessed Canada, our neighbors, our friends,” while pumping her fist. The remark appeared to allude to Donald Trump’s tariff disputes with Canada and his suggestion that it could become the 51st US state.
Field went on to describe her six decades in the arts before delivering a wider defence of the film and television industry.
“With art, we matter. Our voices matter,” she said. “Our diversity, our unique storytelling matters.”
She added: “We can’t let those voices be silenced, or compromised or merged,” placing particular emphasis on the final word in what appeared to be a reference to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. deal.
The proposed merger has faced opposition from forces in Hollywood, including the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA. The Writers Guild of America has sued in an effort to block it, while 12 state attorneys general, led by California’s Rob Bonta, have joined the lawsuit.
Sally Field’s fourth Emmy win
Field’s latest Emmy was her fourth victory from nine nominations. She won her first award for the 1976 television film Sybil, followed by a guest acting prize for ER in 2001 and a lead actress award for Brothers & Sisters in 2007.
She also has two Academy Awards, for Norma Rae and Places in the Heart, and was nominated for a third Oscar for her performance as Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.
Fellow winner Matthew Rhys was seen looking puzzled during Field’s speech. Rhys made history at the ceremony by becoming the first actor to win two leading acting awards in one night, taking the comedy prize for Widow’s Bay and the limited-series award for The Beast in Me.
Widow’s Bay was the night’s biggest winner, taking six awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, while The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series and Noah Wyle collected the lead actor prize in the drama category.
