Sally Field Turned Down ‘The First Wives Club’ Role Over the Plot: ‘There’s More for Women to Say’

Sally Field has revealed the surprising reason she turned down a role in 1996’s The First Wives Club.

In an interview with Parade published on Saturday, April 25, the Forrest Gump actress, 79, revealed that she was originally tapped to play the role of Annie MacDuggan Paradis alongside Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn, which ultimately went to Diane Keaton.

Field made it clear that the reason she turned down the movie had nothing to do with her potential costars. “I loved all those actors,” she said. “But I did turn it down.”

According to her, the reason she had to say no was because of the movie’s plot.

“I have always had a problem with older women either wanting to get a date or looking to, like, you know, have more sex with their husband,” she explained. “I just feel like there’s more for women to say, so that was just never my cup of tea.”

The movie, which was adapted from Olivia Goldsmith‘s hit 1992 novel, follows three affluent women who reunite at a mutual friend’s funeral and decide to get revenge on their ex-husbands, who have all left them for younger women.

The film features many memorable scenes, including a moment where the three women sing the 1963 song originally recorded by Lesley Gore, “You Don’t Own Me.” That powerful scene, while iconic, is another reason Field turned down the movie.

“I don’t sing and they all do at the end,” she said.

Fortunately, there are no hard feelings on Field’s part for not taking the role because she believes it went to the right person.

“I would never have been as good,” the Mrs. Doubtfire star explained. “I mean, it was absolutely right for Keaton—not for me.”