Sally Field has always balanced star power with an everyday spirit. Now, at 79, she reminded Los Angeles of that quiet mix in her first public sighting in a year.

This week, photographers spotted her leaving a supermarket. She kept it simple. She wore a black blazer over a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. She pushed her cart and carried her own bags. Then she slipped back into the city like any other shopper.

Of course, Field’s résumé reads like a time capsule of modern Hollywood. She broke through as the sunny surfer girl in Gidget. Next, she leapt from sitcom fame to serious work, earning Oscars for roles that celebrated grit and heart. Later, she joined beloved ensembles like Steel Magnolias and became a familiar face for a new generation in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Forrest Gump.

Yet her life off-screen still shapes how people see her. Over the past year, she spoke publicly about a painful teenage experience that left a lasting mark. She tied that story to her support for protecting reproductive rights. She also invited other women to share their own stories, if they felt able.

Now she seems to have stepped back from the spotlight. Still, her presence carries weight. Sometimes, a simple grocery run says plenty.