News | Entertainment
30 Jan 2026 10:08
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
     30 Jan: Steve Coogan thinks being "laser-focused" is key to success
     30 Jan: Paul Giamatti "didn't actually think" he'd appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
     30 Jan: Channing Tatum believes parenting is "hard"
     30 Jan: Leighton Meester considers "just liking each other" to be key to relationship success
     30 Jan: Jason Momoa thinks Dave Bautista is "graceful" and "regal"
     30 Jan: A$AP Rocky and Rihanna try to retain some "spice" in their relationship
     30 Jan: Steve Coogan does not "want to be part of the British establishment"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Ireland's Auckland-born midfielder Bundee Aki will sit out half of Ireland's Six Nations rugby campaign over referee abuse More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Missing out on a spot at the airport is largely to blame for a Wellington taxi company's failure More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Steve Coogan thinks being "laser-focused" is key to success 10:01

    International:
    Trump tariffs could 'isolate' the US and create new trading blocs 9:46

    Law and Order:
    Trump border tsar Tom Homan pledges 'safer' Minnesota operation as government shutdown looms 9:37

    Entertainment:
    Paul Giamatti "didn't actually think" he'd appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 9:31

    Soccer:
    The Wellington Phoenix are matter-of-fact about missing football's Australia Cup, alongside Auckland FC 9:07

    Entertainment:
    Channing Tatum believes parenting is "hard" 9:01

    Entertainment:
    Leighton Meester considers "just liking each other" to be key to relationship success 8:31

    Golf:
    Golfer Daniel Hillier's consistency continues to start the European Tour season 8:27

    Business:
    Missing out on a spot at the airport is largely to blame for a Wellington taxi company's failure 8:17

    International:
    As Donald Trump weighs up actions, Iranians send the US a message to 'please help' 8:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd