# A Woman of Independent Means

A Woman of Independent Means is a 1995 American period drama television miniseries directed and produced by Robert Greenwald from a teleplay by Cindy Myers, based on the 1978 book of the same name by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. The miniseries stars Sally Field (who also served as an executive producer), with Ron Silver, Tony Goldwyn, Jack Thompson, Sheila McCarthy, Brenda Fricker, and Charles Durning in supporting roles. It follows for some seven decades the story of Bess Alcott, from her Dallas marriage to her fourth-grade sweetheart to the birth of three children to the fussings with grandchildren.
The miniseries received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Miniseries and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for Field, winning one for its costume design. Field was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance.

## Cast

* Sally Field as Bess Alcott Steed Garner
* Ron Silver as Arthur Fineman
* Tony Goldwyn as Robert Steed
* Jack Thompson as Sam Garner
* Sheila McCarthy as Totsie
* Brenda Fricker as Mother Steed
* Charles Durning as Andrew Alcott
* Ann Hearn as Lydia
* Lawrence Monoson as Walter Burton
* Richard Dillard as Richard Prince
* John S. Davies as Howard Blackstone
* Rutherford Cravens as Marvin Hamilton
* Christina Stojanovich as Eleanor (child)
* Emmy Barker as Eleanor (teen)
* Andrea Roth as Eleanor (adult)
* Cameron Finley as Drew (child)
* Christopher Fox as Drew (teen)
* Andrew Lowery as Drew (adult)
* Trevor Meeks as Robin (child)
* Matthew Loehr as Robin (teen)
* John Slattery as Dwight
* Margaret Bowman as Old Nanny
* Pam Dougherty as Second Jessamine Sister
* Jimmy Ray Pickens as St. Louis Bellhop
* Gena Sleete as Mrs. Maxwell
* Angie Bolling as Mrs. Fleck
* Rodger Boyce as Eleanor's Doctor

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Part I" | Robert Greenwald | Cindy Myers | February 19, 1995 (1995-02-19) |
| 2 | "Part II" | Robert Greenwald | Cindy Myers | February 20, 1995 (1995-02-20) |
| 3 | "Part III" | Robert Greenwald | Cindy Myers | February 22, 1995 (1995-02-22) |

## Reception
### Critical response

A Woman of Independent Means received praise for the performances of the cast, particularly that of Field. Tony Scott of Variety stated that "Greenwald, with the reminiscing Bess as his constant object, directs Field and the large cast with admirable skill". Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the miniseries a grade of B, writing that it "has a pleasingly diffuse, almost aimless structure" and "is stubbornly, intriguingly true to its title". Tom Shales of The Washington Post described it as "an absurdly lengthy parade of episodes, some of them admittedly moving, that fails to achieve any kind of meaningful cumulative impact".

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 1995 | Artios Awards | Best Casting for TV Mini-Series | Wendy Kurtzman | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Miniseries | Sally Field, Robert Greenwald, Philip Kleinbart, Preston Fischer, and Steve Saeta | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special | Sally Field | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Casting | Wendy Kurtzman | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special | Julie Weiss (for "Part I") | Won |
| 1996 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Sally Field | Nominated |
| 1996 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Sally Field | Nominated |