Millions of people all over the world felt Burt Reynolds’ death in 2018. The iconic actor died after a long struggle with a variety of health conditions.

The actor left an enormous legacy, including many wonderful memories held by former co-stars and friends. The most touching came from an on-again, off-again girlfriend, Sally Field.

Sally, who recently turned 76, may have kept quiet about the couple’s time together over the years, but since Burt’s death, she’s opened up.

Reynolds said that despite having several flings throughout his life, he only had one real love. In an astonishingly honest interview with Vanity Fair, he stated that Hollywood actress Sally Fields was the lady he would remember for the rest of his life.

In 1977, they met on the set of Smokey and the Bandit.

Reynolds fell madly in love with Field, and he would later admit that he was the one who put up the battle to get Field to work on Smokey and the Bandit. The directors, however, weren’t convinced and didn’t believe that the actress was “sexy enough”. But Burt stuck up for the actress, and Fields was finally cast.

“made me feel attractive, and I wanted to be all he ever desired.”

The celebrity pair appeared to be a match made in heaven and proceeded to co-star in films, including 1978’s “Hooper and the End.” Fields was pleased with Burt for a time. She added that she wanted to be everything he “ever desired” and that he gave her “a sensation that I was gorgeous”.

Burt and Sally dated on and off for over five years, and the press watched every move they took. But they decided to split up in 1980. However, the storybook romance did not work out, and it was far more difficult than people assumed.

Sally recounted in her memoirs how much the charismatic, award-winning actor dominated his partner.

“By the time we met, the weight of his celebrity had become a tool for Burt to dominate everyone around him, and it was a way to control me from the moment I stepped through the door.” In her biography, In Pieces, Sally Fields wrote, “We were a great mix of defects.”

“Blindly, I fell into a rut that had long since formed in my path, a pre-programmed behavior as if I had previously made a soul-binding promise to this man.”

What might have been the start of something lovely and a love tale for the ages turned into a nightmare for Sally.

“What occurred was that I ceased to exist.” I dressed for him, looked for him, and went in his footsteps. “He asked me to marry him several times, but I knew it wasn’t in his heart,” she explained. “We’d have just ended up feeling bad.”

Following their divorce, both stars went on and began seeing other people. But, on the other hand, never forgot Sally Fields and confessed that the fallout was most likely his fault.

“I miss her so much,” he remarked. “Even now, it’s difficult for me. I’m not sure why I was so foolish. You know, men are like that. “You discover the perfect person and then do all in your power to ruin it.”

The actor was sad for more than 40 years, and Sally wouldn’t talk to him until Burt was nearing the end of his life. In reality, she hadn’t spoken to him in decades, and the Steel Magnolias actress refused to have any type of interaction with her ex.

The true cause of the split was never revealed, but there were allegations that Burt was cheating on Fields. It was really embarrassing for Sally when the reports came in, and she felt like a fool.

Yet, in the aftermath of his death, Fields chose to step out and disclose something that would have definitely shattered Burt’s heart.

She is said to have said, “Some things in your life are so ingrained that they never leave you.” They are still living, even after forty years. My time with Burt will never be forgotten. He will remain a part of my history and my heart for the rest of my life. “Rest well, Buddy.”

In 2018, the popular actor, 82, apparently died of a heart attack while surrounded by his family.

Sally, now 76, spoke with NPR about her sincere and honest sentiments for Burt and their relationship.

“I’ve always thought of him nostalgically… He was a very vital part of my life, although only for a very short time. I was only with him for maybe three years, and then maybe another two years on and off. But it was so crucial to my own existence, to my own development as a human.

Sally also expressed gratitude that Burt died before she could publish her memories. The actress claimed that several parts of the book would offend Burt. She, for example, described her ex-lover as “confusing, difficult, and unpleasant.”

“I was relieved that he wasn’t going to read it, that he wouldn’t be questioned about it, and that he wouldn’t have to justify himself or lash out, which he definitely would have,” she added.

Though Burt was granted a second chance at his wonderful relationship with Sally Fields, we hope that wherever he is today, he is aware that she had affection for him long after they were separated.