Academy Alumni

After years of lighting up the small screen in shows like Gidget and The Flying Nun, Sally left television for film. Now, she's back and better than ever. Currently, Sally's playing the meddling mother of five adult children on ABC's hit show Brothers & Sisters. The all-star cast, which also includes Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe and Rachel Griffiths, has helped make this primetime drama a breakout hit.

"I'm loving it," Sally says. "It's a phenomenal group of actors. I am grateful for every day because they are just extraordinary."

Sally says she can relate to her character, Norma Walker, because she has grown children of her own. "[The show is] really about things that are in my life," she says. "These are the things that I worry about and deal with, and obviously people throughout the country feel that way."

Due to the show's grueling schedule, Sally says she'll be watching this year's Academy Awards® from her bed. "I do think it's fun to watch," she says. "But I hate the fact that sometimes you're watching it now hoping that someone will do something stupid. … Rather than it being about what it's about—applauding really good work."