Sally Field
Performance: Mary Todd Lincoln in Lincoln (Oscar nomination, Best Supporting Actress)
“Had there not been a Mary Todd, there wouldn’t have been an Abraham Lincoln,” Field says of the mercurial First Lady. “She was complicated and brilliant, and she had a keen sense of where she would be placed in history — she would not be looked at fondly.”
The Performers Speak:
See a Compilation of Highlights from the 2013 Great Performers
More Portraits of the 2013 Great Performers by Paola Kudacki
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com