Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine catch up 23 years on

PUBLISHED: 10:30 EST, 8 June 2012 | UPDATED: 10:30 EST, 8 June 2012

The five hanky movie Steel Magnolias was a huge hit in 1989 and at last night's American Film Institute festival, three of its main stars were seen chumming around together - acting as if they'd made the whimsical drama just yesterday.

Julia Roberts sat in the middle of Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field at the award dinner and the three chatted and laughed throughout the entire evening.

When MacLaine, 78, earned the American Film Institute's life-achievement award, her former co-stars whooped and clapped.

They've hardly aged: Sally Field and Julia Roberts played mother and daughter in Steel Magnolias, made 13 years ago

Surrounded by flowers: The former co-stars sat at the main table during the AFI fest

Famous trio: Field and Roberts teared up as MacLaine got ready to accept her award

Aww: MacLaine plants a wet one on her former co-star

Particularly chummy were Field, who played caring mum M'Lynn Eatenton in Steel Magnolias, and Roberts, who starred as Shelby, her very sick daughter. They were seen putting their heads together and whispering throughout the festivities.

Meryl Streep also happened to be at the very same table last night and seated to the right of MacLaine - who starred as M'Lynn's grouchy friend - and those two actresses chatted also, especially since it was Streep who presented MacLaine with her award.

WIth such female star power at one sitting, of course their flower-filled table was front and centre in the middle of a room crowded with the likes of John Travolta, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty (MacLaine's real-life brother), Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman.

Steel Magnolia's was based on a 1987 play by Robert Harling which dealt with the playwright's experience with the death of his diabetic sister.

Woman of the hour: Shirley MacLaine was honoured for a life time of great roles

Glamour gals: Field looked lovely in blue while Roberts wore a sleek black suit

The movie was about a group of women from a Louisiana parish that experience the death of! one of their own.

Also starring Dolly Parton as a hair dresser where M'Lynn and Shelby go to ready Shelby for her wedding, the small-budget movie ended up grossing about $100 million.

It was one of Roberts' earlier films that helped put the Pretty Woman on the map.

Her character Shelby, who suffers from a kidney condition, puts her own life at risk to have a child with her husband Jackson, played by Dylan McDermott, and ends up dying from the stress of child birth.

Roberts was nominated for an best supporting actress Oscar for the role. She didn't win an Oscar until 11 years later, for her role in Erin Brokovich.