Sissy Spacek stars as Loretta Lynn alongside a cast that included Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo and Levon Helm. THR noted in its review that Spacek "plays the title role to perfection." Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Sissy Spacek had been on the fence about starring in Coal Miner's Daughter, the biopic about country music legend Loretta Lynn. The Texas-born Spacek had envisioned a career as a folk singer but then started landing acting gigs, thanks to guidance from her cousin Rip Torn. As Coal Miner's Daughter director Michael Apted sought his lead, Lynn herself was drawn to a photo of Spacek, convinced that the actress was the right choice without having even seen her work, including her star turn in 1976 horror classic Carrie. At the time, Spacek went to one of Lynn's concerts with the intention of turning down the role. But after the show, she found herself captivated as Lynn scolded the drummer for playing too loudly. "She was ragging on her band, and I was just dumbstruck," Spacek recalled in a 2018 interview. "I thought, 'I have to play this woman!' And I'm so grateful that I did, because we're still very close." (Lynn died at 90 in 2022.) Related Stories Hollywood Flashback Extras! Extras! Read All About Them Movies Hollywood Flashback: When Robert De Niro's Creature Captivated the Academy The feature focuses on Lynn's path to success, which included a childhood of poverty and becoming a bride at 15. Spacek did her own singing and worked with Lynn for a week in a Nashville hotel to nail the performer's Kentucky dialect and guitar style. Universal released Coal Miner's Daughter on March 7, 1980. Critics sang Spacek's praises, and the film's $67 million box office haul ($264 million today) made it the year's seventh-highest-grossing title. It earned seven Oscar noms including best picture, with Spacek winning for best actress. Spacek, who stars opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in this year's Die My Love, told THR in 2011 that she considers Coal Miner's Daughter to be her most challenging project "because of the music and because I had to capture Loretta's rhythm. But I wasn't as afraid to show the film to Loretta as I was to Loretta's fan club." This story first appeared in a December stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Suzannah Herbert 'Natchez' Documentarian on the Ghosts of the Civil War That Continue to Haunt the American South rose byrne Rose Byrne to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Exclusive) F1 How 'F1: The Movie' Was Filmed at Real Grand Prixs, With Brad Pitt and Damson Idris Driving 180 MPH Woody Harrelson 'Ella McCay' Review: Emma Mackey Battles to Breathe Authenticity Into James L. Brooks' Antiquated Sentimental Comedy Sundance Film Festival Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films united kingdom Jonathan Pryce Boards Refugee Short 'Largo' as Executive Producer (Exclusive) Suzannah Herbert 'Natchez' Documentarian on the Ghosts of the Civil War That Continue to Haunt the American South rose byrne Rose Byrne to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Exclusive) F1 How 'F1: The Movie' Was Filmed at Real Grand Prixs, With Brad Pitt and Damson Idris Driving 180 MPH Woody Harrelson 'Ella McCay' Review: Emma Mackey Battles to Breathe Authenticity Into James L. Brooks' Antiquated Sentimental Comedy Sundance Film Festival Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films united kingdom Jonathan Pryce Boards Refugee Short 'Largo' as Executive Producer (Exclusive)