Don't Let Go

It is hard to imagine that a two-time Academy Award winning actress would have to fight for a part in a movie.  Yet that is exactly what Sally Field had to do to keep her grip on the role of Mrs Lincoln in the recent Speilberg movie.

In 2005, Steven Speilberg cast Liam Neeson as President Lincoln and Sally Field as Mrs Lincoln.  But the project stalled, different writers came on and it took a long time to get the right script.  In the meantime,  Liam Neeson dropped out of the project.  Speilberg went after Daniel Day Lewis who was reluctant but eventually agreed to play the iconic role of Lincoln. 

During these years, Sally Field waited patiently to play Mrs Lincoln.  Sally was deeply convicted that the role of Mary. Lincoln was hers, even to the fact that Mrs Lincoln was 5’ 2” tall and so is Sally.  But when she learnt that Daniel Day Lewis had agreed to play Lincoln, she felt “in her gut” that Speilberg would not want to keep her in the movie.  There was an age difference, Sally being ten years older than Day Lewis.  And Mrs Lincoln was ten years younger than her husband. 

Her instincts were right:  Speilberg didn’t see her in the movie with Day Lewis.  Sally pleaded with him, “You’re wrong Steven….You’re wrong.  I won’t let you walk away from me.” 

Sally had to dig in and fight for the role.  Even though she had two Oscars on her mantlepiece, she put herself through a casting process that included two screen tests, one without Daniel Day Lewis and one with him.  She was driving when the call came in from Speilberg who asked, “Will you be our Mary?”

Will the real Mrs Lincoln stand up please?

  

Sally’s is a truly wonderful performance as Mrs Lincoln.  We have all been richly rewarded by her tenacity and courage to not let go of the role she dearly wanted for herself.  We can do likewise for the things we want in our work and personal lives.  Instead of falling into line, we can dig in, develop our case, gather evidence, ask, negotiate, and most important of all, not let go.

If you would like to see an interview with Sally Field telling this story, please click here.