As a cinephile who has been fortunate enough to witness the remarkable journey of some of Hollywood’s greatest talents, I must admit that Kathy Bates‘ decision to hang up her acting shoes after the upcoming reboot of Matlock is truly bittersweet. Over the past five decades, Bates has not only captivated audiences with her exceptional talent but also inspired countless aspiring actors with her unwavering dedication and versatility.
For more than five decades, she’s been an unstoppable presence in Hollywood and even took home an Oscar, but now she’s ready to bring her extraordinary career to a close. Bates will star in a new CBS reboot of the classic legal TV drama, but she refers to this upcoming series as “my final performance.
The upcoming series titled “Matlock” consists of 18 episodes, inspired by the ’80s show featuring Andy Griffith as the lead attorney. In the revamped version, the role of Matlock will be played by Bates, who is reprising her character after a successful stint at the law firm during her youthful years. As stated by Bates, the fact that she has not yet retired from the industry is largely due to Matlock, which suggests she has no intention of seeking further employment once this project concludes.
In an interview with The New York Times, Bates shared that before playing Matlock, a difficult filming experience on an unspecified movie had left her considering quitting acting altogether. Feeling underappreciated after pouring all her effort into the role, she confided in her agent about retiring. However, against her plans, her agent sent her a script for Matlock in January 2024, which was so compelling that it made her momentarily reconsider her decision to retire. Reflecting on accepting the role, she mentioned:
It seems that everything I’ve asked for, strived for, and struggled to achieve is now being requested of me. It’s overwhelming, really, quite draining.
Kathy Bates Has Had a Flawless Career
Beginning her acting career on stage during the 1970s, Bates reached unprecedented fame with her portrayal of Annie Wilkes in the 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, Misery. Her gripping performance as a deranged fan who kidnaps her favorite author earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. This movie not only stands out among Stephen King adaptations but also ranks among the greatest films ever made.
After winning an Oscar, Bates’ acting career took off with a flood of offers coming her way. This resulted in appearances in films like “Dolores Claiborne,” another adaptation by Stephen King, as well as James Cameron’s “Titanic,” where she played the historical socialite Molly Brown. Over the next ten years, Bates demonstrated an impressive range with her role selections, highlighting her versatility across various genres and platforms. Her powerful performance in “Primary Colors” was widely praised, and even her roles in lighter fare like the Jack Nicholson comedy “About Schmidt” brought further acclaim. As she transitioned to television roles, this pattern of recognition continued unabated.
Bates gained significant recognition by starring in hit shows like ‘Six Feet Under’ and ‘Harry’s Law’, which even earned her two Emmy nominations. Later, she returned to the intense roles she excelled at, such as the one in ‘Misery’, through Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series ‘American Horror Story’. This role brought her an Emmy award in 2014. Recently, she has been seen in ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ and ‘A Family Affair’ on Netflix alongside Nicole Kidman.
If ‘Matlock’ marks Bates’ last performance, it is anticipated that she will once again breathe life into a character, further enhancing one of the most distinguished resumes in Hollywood. Despite some actors choosing to retire before reaching their seventies, at 76 years old, Bates has more than paid her dues and deserves her retirement multiple times over.
Matlock
is set to debut on CBS on September 22, and will stream on Paramount+ at a later date.
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2024-09-09 03:02