Oscar winner Kathy Bates, 76, announced in an interview with The New York Times that she will be retiring from acting after her upcoming starring role in CBS’ Matlock reboot. Bates had considered retiring after a movie shoot soured her on acting but ultimately accepted the role in Matlock, which she felt resonated with her. Throughout her career, Bates has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Misery and two Emmy awards for her work in Two and a Half Men and American Horror Story: Coven.
Despite her success in Hollywood, Bates admitted to feeling like a misfit in the industry and never felt dressed right or well. She expressed jealousy at times for having the talent to act and the toll it took on her life. Bates has had notable roles in Titanic, Primary Colors, About Schmidt, Richard Jewell, and Revolutionary Road, but she explained how acting becomes her life and sometimes she just wants her life without the constraints of her talent.
Bates will be starring in the upcoming Matlock series, a gender-swapped reboot of the original 1986 series starring Andy Griffith. In the new series, Bates plays Madeline Matlock, a septuagenarian lawyer who uses her decades of life and work experience to win cases. The series is executive produced by Jennie Snyder Urman and costars Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis. Matlock is set to premiere on Sunday, September 22 on CBS.
As Bates prepares for her final role on Matlock, she reflected on her career and the journey she has had in Hollywood. She described how she felt when she won the Oscar for Misery, not feeling like she fit in as a movie star. Bates expressed her exhaustion with using all her talent in her upcoming television series, feeling the weight of her work and the toll it takes on her. Despite her success, Bates is looking forward to retiring from acting and stepping away from the industry.
The actress described how her agents sent her the script for Matlock in January, which she felt was a perfect fit for her. She expressed gratitude for being able to use all her talent and experience in one last role before retiring. Bates has had a long and successful career in Hollywood, with memorable roles in film and television, but she is now ready to step away from acting and pursue other interests in life. After Matlock, Bates will be officially retiring from acting, ending her time in the industry on a high note with a role that resonated with her.
