News | Entertainment
20 Feb 2026 14:52
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Oprah Winfrey has recalled the "big mistake" she made while interviewing Sally Field

    Early in her career, she was urged by bosses to ask the actress an awkward question about her co-star Burt Reynolds, whom she starred with in the likes of 'Smokey and the Bandit' - while she also dated the late big screen icon for a number of years


    Appearing on Rob Lowe's 'Literally' podcast, she said: "My big mistake:

    I asked her, 'Does Burt sleep with his toupee on?'

    "I even say now, I cringe to even think that I asked that question. But I asked it because the producers are like, 'You have to ask, you have to ask, you have to ask. That's what everybody wants to know.'

    "And so I asked it, and she went cold on me. She shut down, and I could not get in again."

    Now, Oprah - who has gone onto become one of the biggest names in television with a great reputation for her interviews - admitted she shouldn't have followed that line of questioning, and she "deserved" to be shut down during their chat.

    She added: "It was like, 'Whoa, Sally went cold on me on live TV'.

    "I deserved it, I deserved it, I deserved it, 'cause that is such an inappropriate question."

    'Wayne's World' star Rob - who worked with Sally on 'Brothers & Sisters'

    - reflected on his own experiences alongside the 74-year-old actress.

    He joked: "She's one of the most amazing actors I've ever known, but when Sally goes cold, it's like Khrushchev in the Cold War. She will bury you."

    Oprah, 67, has opened up about the embarrassing incident in the past, and she back in 2005 she described the experience as "awful".

    She said at the time: "Sally Field used to date Burt Reynolds and I asked this awful question. It was a bad question. I wouldn't do it today."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     20 Feb: Savannah Guthrie's family members have been "cleared as possible suspects" in the disappearance of her mom Nancy
     20 Feb: Jada Pinkett Smith has asked a court to dismiss a $3 million lawsuit filed by her husband Will's former friend
     20 Feb: Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple Martin has denied she was expelled from school for being a bully
     20 Feb: Meaghan Oppenheimer has revealed Tell Me Lies is ending at the "perfect" time
     19 Feb: Jane Seymour felt privileged to work with Robert Duvall
     19 Feb: Logan Paul has sold a Pokemon trading card for $16.5 million
     19 Feb: Sir Sam Mendes has "no outlet" during a film shoot
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi has reported he's not far away from a return to the Super Rugby Pacific picture, but is warning his teammates not to take Moana Pasifika lightly tonight More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    2026 could be the year for Auckland businesses, with confidence rising More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Savannah Guthrie's family members have been "cleared as possible suspects" in the disappearance of her mom Nancy 14:47

    Law and Order:
    What we know about ex-prince Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office 14:37

    Education:
    Indra Brown's Winter Olympics medal contention doesn't remove the reality of school homework 14:27

    International:
    Donald Trump hosts first 'Board of Peace' meeting with new pledges for Gaza 14:17

    National:
    SpaceX rocket left behind a plume of chemical pollution as it burnt up in the atmosphere 14:17

    Entertainment:
    Jada Pinkett Smith has asked a court to dismiss a $3 million lawsuit filed by her husband Will's former friend 14:17

    Rugby:
    All Blacks flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi has reported he's not far away from a return to the Super Rugby Pacific picture, but is warning his teammates not to take Moana Pasifika lightly tonight 14:07

    National:
    Friday essay: ‘red flags’ and ‘performative reading’ – what do our reading choices say about us? 14:07

    Golf:
    Ryan Fox has slipped to a share of third, late in his opening round at the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple Martin has denied she was expelled from school for being a bully 13:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd