At 76, Kathy Bates has achieved a career many can only dream of: Oscar winner, Emmy winner, director, actor, Tony nominee and philanthropist. Her recent success on the CBS drama Matlock has reignited her career, coinciding with a renewed focus on female-led stories for women over 40. Bates, considered a frontrunner for an Emmy nomination for her role as a septuagenarian lawyer, has become a beacon of hope for women often expected to fade into the background after their mid-40s.
“I want women to not lose faith in what they’ve learned in their lives,” Bates told HELLO! “I don’t want to dwell on regrets or things that could have gone differently in the world, or in life. It’s difficult for women to be respected and so I think it’s important that we stand up for ourselves.”
Speaking at TheWrap’s inaugural Showrunners & Creators Breakfast on May 21, Bates was joined by Matlock co-stars Skye P. Marshall and Jason Ritter to support showrunner Jennie Snyder Ulman. The season one finale left protagonist Madeline Kingston in a precarious position, with her secret exposed and new challenges emerging. Bates revealed she had a hand in casting Nico Nicotera as Alfie’s father, a role she believed would be wonderful for the show.
Despite her six decades in the industry, Bates admits she still has a “list of things that I need to work on.” She said, “I am able to watch the cuts when they come out and give my two cents, but I’m also able to see all my bad habits – I shake my head too much and sometimes my accent slips, so I’ve got a list of things that I need to work on.”
