VARIETY Magazine: Kathy Bates On Her Historic Emmy Nomination, Starring in a Network TV Series at 77, and More

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In a new cover story for VARIETY, Emmy-nominated “Matlock” star Kathy Bates speaks with Executive Editor, TV Michael Schneider about her historic nomination as the oldest-ever nominee in the outstanding drama actress category at 77. She also discusses her weight loss, being in over her head when “Misery” elevated her to the A-list, cringing at her performance in “Fried Green Tomatoes,” why she insists that “Matlock” is filmed in Los Angeles, and more. 

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Bates on her weight loss: “People say, ’Well, it was the Ozempic.’ Fuck you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this. I got this diagnosis about diabetes — my father died of it; his mother died of it; one of my sisters is in peril. When they said ’diabetes,’ I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight. And then when Ozempic came along, I was able to lose the last 15 to 20 pounds and keep it off. But the juxtaposition of getting healthy and then this show coming along is just unbelievable. The timing of it is great.”

On why her historic Emmy nomination is both wonderful and overwhelming: Not only is “Matlock” a hit — delivering nearly 16 million viewers across broadcast and streaming last season — but it has led to a new string of honors for Bates. And she’s not bothered that we keep mentioning that age-related historic stat.

“I love that,” she says, noting that “this feels totally different” from the success that has come before. “It’s true, first of all, and it’s a badge of honor. It’s just the serendipity of all of it. I’ve never had any of this stuff happen before, where I’ve got five different designers sending dresses!”

It’s all a bit overwhelming, Bates says, as she reveals what happened the other day when her new stylist shared some of those stylish clothes.

“She had a beautiful dress for me to try. I looked at it on the hanger, and I thought, ’That’s not gonna fit.’ I put it on, and it fit, and I just melted down. I just started crying and crying. I’m still figuring out what it’s like to be without all of that weight. What was it for? What was I hiding myself from? What are the emotions that are pouring out because I don’t have that armor? It just really surprised me, really shocked me.”

On being in over her head when she hit the big time with “Misery”: Although Bates was 42 when the film elevated her to the A-list, she recalls feeling woefully young and out of step.

“Just like a child. I had no clue. In fact, there’s a picture of me getting out of a car wearing a black-lace bib and a white bra underneath — just so tacky! I just always felt like it was a nightmare. I just felt so ill prepared, like a country bumpkin…Looking back on those years, I felt unprotected. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was a middle-class kid from Memphis, Tennessee, with older parents, and really 20 years behind the times. I didn’t know anything about anything, and it haunted me for years.”

On why she cringes at her performance in “Fried Green Tomatoes”: “I could have done a really good job with that part, and I didn’t do nearly enough,” she says, noting that she was distracted by her “Misery” press tour and filming another project, “The Road to Mecca.”

On insisting that “Matlock” is filmed in Los Angeles: Although “Matlock” shot its pilot in Toronto, Bates leveraged CBS’ desire to cast her into making sure the series would film at home in Los Angeles, at a time when local production losses are a key industry concern.

“This is the first time in I don’t know how many years where I’ve been able to unpack my suitcases and put them away,” she says. “One thing about being 77 is traveling has gotten difficult. I really can’t go on the road by myself anymore. You’re away from your support system…Come on. This is Hollywood, for Christ’s sake. This is a huge industry for California. There’s so much history here. And it’s not just the people who work in production; it’s every other industry that Hollywood supports. The drivers, the restaurants. I don’t want to pack a bag!”

On why the well-being of the artisans she works with is always top of mind: “Everybody says, ’Oh, you’re so nice to the crew.’ But me walking up to the Emmy stage would be for them, because this doesn’t happen without every single person not only putting their heart and soul into it, but also being lovely. You try going in there and hammering shit together 12 hours a day. The grips and the electricians, they have to turn over these stages and the lights; it’s not easy. Every single person in every crew or office, they make this show.”

On AI: “My college roommate, she asked, ’Are you hawking a diet about bananas?’ I said, ’No!’ But she was like, ’Well, it’s you, your face and voice and everything!’ Apparently on Facebook, my AI version is selling a banana diet that just works like crazy. You could have me out there selling ICBM missiles or whatever! You just don’t know whether it’s fake or not.”

On her relationship with co-star Skye Marshall: “This afternoon you saw me screw up, and Skye was there for me. She does that sometimes — she’ll just jiggle me and it’s just joyous. That’s what feeds me. When Skye and I are working together, we just have this ability to lock in with each other that feels so safe.”

[Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota for Variety]

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