Kathy Bates says 'Matlock' will be her 'last dance' as she calls curtains on career of more than 50 years

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kathy Bates is planning to retire from acting following her upcoming show ‘Matlock’. 

Bates, 76, has announced that ‘Matlock’ -- where she is starring as “brilliant septuagenarian” lawyer Madeline “Matty” Matlock -- will be her “last dance” before she hangs up her boots. 

This will draw curtains on a legendary career that began in 1970, when Bates was cast in a minor role in the Milos Forman comedy 'Taking Off' (credited as "Bobo Bates").

Speaking to The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actress for the 1990 film ‘Misery’ revealed that she originally planned to quit Hollywood last year after an aborted movie plan left her in tears.

Kathy Bates announces her retirement after decades long career

After the shooting for the aforementioned film -- whose name she did not reveal -- was aborted, Bates was left in distress as work has always been an all-consuming entity in her life. 

Bates explained, “It becomes my life,” before adding, “Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent. Because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.” 

However, when her hard work did not pay off, the two-time Emmy-winning actress for ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘Two and a Half Men’ was left sobbing on her couch. 

The next day, she dialed up her agents to announce that she was retiring from acting. However, destiny had something else in store for her. A few weeks later in January this year, her agents called her to request a reading for the script of ‘Matlock’. 

‘Matlock’ is the reboot of the original series of the same name that aired in the 80’s and 90’s, originally starring Andy Griffiths. 

Though she wasn’t at that point looking for a procedural drama, she read the script, which enchanted her for the similarity she found with the fictional character. 

Per the New York Times, the show is about a brilliant female lawyer, who feels age has left her feeling invisible. 

The role naturally enthralled Bates as it was her chance to put into use whatever wisdom she had accumulated in her life. The ‘Titanic’ actress admitted, “Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it.”

She, however, also revealed, “And it’s exhausting. This is my last dance.”

Opening up about her career, Bates described it as “Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain,” before questioning, “Do I have the right to feel this pain? When I was given so much?”

She admitted candidly, “I never really thought about being a movie star,” while sharing she felt unwanted in her childhood. 

“I just wanted to be the best I could be,” shared the actress, who won two Golden Globes along with an Oscar and Emmys. 

Delving further into her career, Bates shared about the publicity she received after her Oscar-winning ‘Misery’, “I never felt dressed right or well.”

Bates, who starred as Nurse Annie Wilkes in ‘Misery’, shared, “I felt like a misfit. It’s that line in Misery when Annie says, ‘I’m not a movie star.’ I’m not.”

Nevertheless, she admitted that acting “was the only thing I’ve had, ever.”

During the interview, Bates also referred to a statement made by her character Matty. Matty poignantly said in the trailer about an aging female professional, “There’s this funny thing that happens when women age. We become damn near invisible. It’s useful, because nobody sees us coming.”

Bates admitted her reason for choosing the role while noting, “Maybe on some deep level that’s why I was attracted to this.”

‘Matlock’ is releasing on September 22

Kathy Bates’ upcoming show -- featuring 18 episodes -- will be premiering on CBS on September 22, and will stream on Paramount+. 

The show, created by ‘Charmed’ producer Jennie Snyder Urman, also stars Jason Ritter, Skye P Marshall, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis.