Kathy Bates: Retirement Before Matlock Fame
- Before securing the lead in CBS's "Matlock" reboot, Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates contemplated stepping away from acting.
- Initially hesitant about episodic television,a twist at the script's end changed her mind."I really had one foot out the door," Bates said.
- The actress explained she felt relegated to minor roles in underappreciated films.She questioned her career path, even considering selling her home and relocating to France.
Kathy Bates almost retired before her leading Matlock role, but a perfectly timed script changed everything.Learn how the Oscar-winning actress, feeling relegated to minor roles, was ready to step away, even considering a move to France. This unexpected twist revived her career, with the role feeling “tailor-made.” Previously calling Matlock her “last dance,” Bates is now grateful to fully utilize her talents, adding it’s also “exhausting.” The actress also humorously dealt with losing a Golden Globe.News Directory 3 reports on the career shift. Discover what’s next for Bates in the CBS reboot, including new cases and further character exploration.
Kathy Bates’ ‘Matlock’ Role Delayed Retirement Plans
Updated June 16, 2025
Before securing the lead in CBS’s ”Matlock” reboot, Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates contemplated stepping away from acting. Bates, starring alongside Billy Bob Thornton, revealed to Variety she nearly retired before receiving the script.
Bates said the role felt tailor-made for her. Initially hesitant about episodic television,a twist at the script’s end changed her mind.”I really had one foot out the door,” Bates said.
The actress explained she felt relegated to minor roles in underappreciated films.She questioned her career path, even considering selling her home and relocating to France. The “Matlock” script,she said,”fit me like a glove.”
Bates previously called “Matlock” her “last dance,” telling the New York Times she was grateful to utilize all her talents. “Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it,” Bates said, adding, “And it’s exhausting.” She also admitted that acting “was the only thing I’ve had, ever,” and that she sometiems feels “jealous of having this talent.”
Earlier this year, Bates humorously tore up her prepared Golden Globes speech after Anna Sawai of “Shōgun” won for Female Actor in a Television series — Drama.
What’s next
Bates is expected to continue in her role in “Matlock,” with future episodes exploring new cases and character development.