Caring, kind and with the biggest heart, matriarch Nora Walker is fiercely protective of her family.
She doesn't get off to a great start in the first series, though. After husband William dies, she discovers he's an adulterer and an embezzler, who also has an illegitimate child. Nice.
Thinking that child is Rebecca, the ever-lovely Nora slowly welcomes her into the family and starts to treat her as one of her own.
Strong, funny and with a determined disposition, Nora gradually begins to live her life again - but not without the odd getting-busted-for-smoking-pot blip along the way.
In the latest season, Nora's struggling to find a new purpose in life and goes some way towards finding it with a double life as, of all things, a florist. Before long her motherly advice is put to perfect use on her own radio call-in show, even leading to a romance.
Nora is played by Sally Field
Born in Pasadena, California, two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field has built an impressive track record in the film business. Her credits include such smash hits as Smokey and the Bandit, Steel Magnolias, Absence of Malice, Mrs Doubtfire and Forrest Gump.
Field's talents have been celebrated elsewhere too: as a singer, writer, on stage and the small screen. Getting her break in the show Gidget, Field went on to win an Emmy Award playing the title role in the powerful TV miniseries, Sybil. It would not be her last - Field has since won numerous Emmy Awards for her work in ER and in Brothers and Sisters.
