Sally Field Confesses the Brutal Reality of an 'ER' Costar's New Drama: 'Jaw-Droppingly Good'

Noah Wyle and Sally Field recently reconnected for Variety and CNN's Actors on Actors series. The duo first appeared on screen together in the 1994 medical drama ER.

The actors discussed past work, upcoming projects, and the emotional side of their profession.

Wyle started the interview by saying, "Hi, Sally. Look at the lengths we have to go to to get together." Field responded, "You grew up very well."

Wyle is currently starring as Dr."Robby" Robinavitch in The Pitt. He won the Emmy for best actor in a drama last season and has even written and directed episodes.

"I wanted the opportunity to talk to you about what you're doing. It's so jaw-droppingly good," Field said. "And the relentlessness of the show, I can't even imagine how you shoot that. It's like the old days of network television."

The 55-year-old cited ER for his current success.

"Which is where I got my training. So it's not a muscle that hasn't been worked; it's just a muscle that hasn't been worked in a long time," he said. "The older you get, the more precious the work becomes. You don't want to do it as often, and when you do it, you want it to be cathartic and feel creative."

Field shared that she finds it interesting that each episode takes place in one day. As the characters are tired throughout the season, so are the actors.

"I, too, have done network television and worked like that, and I know how exhausted you are by episode 12," she said.

Wyle added that this helps the show feel even more real.

"That's where we get helped by the longevity of the season," he said. "As the show goes on, they stop putting the concealer under your eyes and they stop doing your hair and, eventually, you just start to go to work as exhausted as you feel, and it tends to show."

The actor continued that he is grateful for his job, even when it's exhausting.

"The idea of ever getting comfortable or confident is almost counterproductive. You don't want to get to a place of relaxation. I like feeling a little scared, a little out of my depth every day," Wyle said.

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 8:56 PM.