Sally Field dropped by "Late Show with David Letterman" and talked about how hard it was for her to get cast as Mary Todd Lincoln in the big-screen film "Lincoln." Steven Spielberg had originally asked her to take the part way back in 2005, but it took years to get the screenplay together.
When they cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln, though, Spielberg started to have reservations about Field as Mary Todd. Not that he didn't think she could portray the first lady well, he just worried about Field and Day-Lewis together.
"I’m ten years older than Daniel, and Mary was ten years younger than Lincoln," Field said. "And Steven really had a right to say, ‘I don’t see the two of you together.’" And apparently, he did say that. But Field said she had a simple response for him. "Well, you’re wrong," she told him. And then she proved it.
The two worked so well together that Spielberg cast her in the role. It was clearly the right choice, too. Both Field and Day-Lewis are up for Oscars for their performances, along with countless other awards nominations for both of them, Spielberg and the film.
Tune in every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. EST on CBS for "Late Show with David Letterman."
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