Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1490579
69 • SAG-AFTR A SPECIAL ISSUE 2023 • sagaftra.org Nevertheless, something had been birthed, and she knew that, too — a sense of self that brought with it the ability to detach from what people thought of her, and even what she thought about herself, if only fleetingly. It was exhilarating and something she would seek more of. "A new sensation had brushed past me," she writes, "and, for one moment, I felt free." Three years after appearing as an uncredited extra "Beatnik Girl in Lineup" in 1962's drive-in feature Moon Pilot, Field landed her first memorable role as TV's Gidget, the spritely teen beach bunny embroiled in weekly madcap adventures. Field had been Taft-Hartley'd into the project during the pilot and received her official SAG card in 1965. "It was a huge moment for me," she told SAG-AFTRA. "In fact, I wish I'd kept that first card!" She also reflected on the evolution of the union. "I've been so grateful to see how much stronger the union has been getting over the last 60 years — and really trying to protect me and all the actors as the world changes. I wish I'd had these protections starting out!" While Field's incarnation of the surfing girl lasted only one season, it was enough to land her on Hollywood's radar, and other wholesome roles soon followed. Three seasons as Sister Bertrille on The Flying Nun and a brief stint in The Girl with Something Extra, a sitcom I'VE BEEN SO GRATEFUL TO SEE HOW MUCH STRONGER THE UNION HAS BEEN GETTING OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS — AND REALLY TRYING TO PROTECT ME AND ALL THE ACTORS AS THE WORLD CHANGES. I WISH I'D HAD THESE PROTECTIONS STARTING OUT! Field at the 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in January. MAT T BARON/BEI/SHUT TERSTOCK