Most Famous Sallys in the World

The name Sally has shown up again and again across film, television, and music, attached to performers and creators who shaped eras and scenes. From multiple Academy Award winners to charting vocalists and acclaimed auteurs, these Sallys have left clear footprints through landmark roles, hit records, and influential projects that continue to be referenced and revisited.

Below is a friendly tour through some of the most recognizable celebrities named Sally. You’ll find concise career highlights, signature works, major awards, and the kinds of collaborations and long-running gigs that made each person a fixture in the public eye.

Sally Field

Sally Field is an American actor with two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performances in ‘Norma Rae’ and ‘Places in the Heart’. She has three Primetime Emmy Awards, including wins for ‘Sybil’ and ‘Brothers & Sisters’, and earned a Tony Award nomination for ‘The Glass Menagerie’. On film, audiences know her for standout roles in ‘Steel Magnolias’, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, and ‘Forrest Gump’, and for an Academy Award–nominated turn as Mary Todd Lincoln in ‘Lincoln’.

Field’s television career began with ‘Gidget’ and ‘The Flying Nun’, and she later delivered notable arcs on ‘ER’ and ‘Maniac’. Beyond acting, she has directed for television, authored a best-selling memoir, and participated in high-profile advocacy for women’s rights and health causes.

Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins is an English actor known worldwide for leading ‘The Shape of Water’, which brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Blue Jasmine’. Earlier, she won a Golden Globe for ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’, one of several collaborations with filmmaker Mike Leigh that built her reputation on both stage and screen.

Hawkins has reached broad audiences through family and franchise films, including playing Mrs. Brown in ‘Paddington’ and appearing in Legendary’s MonsterVerse entries like ‘Godzilla’ and ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’. Her stage work includes acclaimed performances at the Royal Court and National Theatre, and she continues to appear in independent features and prestige television.

Sally Potter

Sally Potter is a British filmmaker and screenwriter best known for ‘Orlando’, adapted from Virginia Woolf’s novel and celebrated for its inventive narrative and design. Her filmography spans features such as ‘The Tango Lesson’, ‘Ginger & Rosa’, and ‘The Party’, reflecting a career-long interest in politics, identity, and form.

Potter’s work frequently premieres at major festivals, including Venice, Berlin, and Toronto, and she has received BAFTA and European Film Awards recognition. In addition to filmmaking, she has directed opera, composed music for her films, and mentored emerging directors through workshops and residencies.

Sally Kellerman

Sally Kellerman gained international attention as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s ‘MASH’, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her film credits include ‘Back to School’ and ‘Brewster McCloud’, along with guest roles across a wide range of television series.

Kellerman also recorded as a singer and performed in clubs and on television variety specials. She lent her distinctive voice to animation and commercials and appeared on stage in musicals and plays, rounding out a career that moved fluidly between mediums.

Sally Struthers

Sally Struthers became a household name playing Gloria Stivic on ‘All in the Family’, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for the role. She later reached a new generation of viewers as Babette on ‘Gilmore Girls’, while maintaining steady work in television movies and series guest appearances.

Struthers has an extensive theatre résumé, including national tours and regional productions of ‘Annie’, ‘Grease’, and ‘Hello, Dolly!’. She has also done voice acting for animated shows and served as a spokesperson for charitable organizations focused on child welfare and education.

Sally Kirkland

Sally Kirkland is an American actor whose lead performance in ‘Anna’ earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and wins at the Golden Globes and Independent Spirit Awards. Her career spans hundreds of credits across independent cinema, mainstream features, and television.

Kirkland has taught acting workshops in Los Angeles and New York, mentoring performers who went on to film and television careers. She has also been active in humanitarian and arts causes, participating in benefits and panels that support independent filmmaking and actor training.

Sally Ann Howes

Sally Ann Howes was an English actress and singer best known on screen as Truly Scrumptious in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. On stage, she replaced Julie Andrews in ‘My Fair Lady’ and was Tony Award–nominated for ‘Brigadoon’, confirming her stature as a leading musical theatre performer.

Howes began acting as a child and built a career that crossed West End, Broadway, film, and television. She headlined concert engagements and recorded cast albums, preserving interpretations of classic show tunes that remained staples for musical theatre audiences.

Sally Yeh

Sally Yeh is a Hong Kong–Canadian Cantopop star and actress who rose to prominence with a run of hit albums and sold-out concerts across Hong Kong and Taiwan. She is known to film fans for her role opposite Chow Yun-fat in John Woo’s ‘The Killer’, blending a successful recording career with high-profile screen work.

Yeh has performed in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, releasing albums that charted across multiple markets. She has headlined major award shows, served as a television host and guest judge, and collaborated with leading producers and songwriters in the Asian pop industry.

Sally Phillips

Sally Phillips is a British actor, comedian, and writer, co-creating the sketch series ‘Smack the Pony’, which won multiple international awards. On film, she played Shazza in the ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ series, and on television she appeared in comedies such as ‘Miranda’ and the political satire ‘Veep’.

Phillips has written for radio and television and presented documentaries addressing social and cultural topics, including disability representation. She continues to act on stage and screen while supporting charities focused on family services and inclusive arts education.

Share your favorite Sallys and the roles or songs you love most in the comments!