Sally Field defended teenagers during her time on Gidget

Sally Field has had a long and successful career, known for roles in Lincoln, Norma Rae, and Forrest Gump. But many people might not realize she got her start at just 18 years old.

Field began her acting career in the early 1960s, and her first credited role was on television in 1965 on the series Gidget, where she played the title character.

Because the legendary actress has been in the business for decades, she’s seen many generations come and go. Teenagers remain largely the same over time, but their problems, interests, and experiences evolve.

Since Field was a teen herself when she starred on Gidget, she had a firsthand understanding of what teenagers wanted and needed.

During a 1965 interview with The Rock Island Argus, Field defended teenagers whenever she had the opportunity. Being a teenager was already challenging, and being a teenage actress made it even more difficult.

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"I guess I've been asked a hundred times, 'What are the problems of being a teenager?'" Field said. "That’s a tough question to answer, but maybe for the sake of all of us teenagers, I better try."

"Being a teenager is difficult," Field continued. "Our parents, for instance, treat us like a different breed of animal. It’s sort of like living with an elephant instead of another person. It’s not that we feel that way, it’s just that adults seem to think of us all alike."

Gidget was a series made for teens. It followed the story of Frances "Gidget" Lawrence, a spirited teenage girl navigating high school, friendships, and surfing adventures in Southern California.

"A teenager has changed a lot from the little boy or girl parents remember," Field said. "The teenager wants to grow up, and parents don’t want us to. They want to keep us small and dependent."

She said she realized that many problems teenagers face are compounded by how they feel growing up. If a person has a good childhood, they may never want their teen years to end, while others may crave adulthood.

"We want to grow up, but sometimes we want to stay small and dependent," Field said. "It’s so confusing. I’m not really sure what we want, but adults are older and smarter, so they should really know."