Kathy Bates Retiring?! Here’s Where You Can Catch Her Last Performance

Kathy Bates is one of those few actresses who can make any scene more compelling simply by being in it.

During an interview with The New York Times, the veteran performer revealed that the CBS production Matlock will be her last before retiring.

“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 explained to the publication last Sunday, September 8.

“And it’s exhausting,” the 76-year-old added. “This is my last dance.”

The upcoming series is based on the 80s show of the same name. Instead of a male lead, Bates takes on the titular character of Madeline Matlock, a lawyer who (ironically enough) steps out of retirement to join a law firm in New York. 

Aside from having a female protagonist, the reboot features a more updated, fast-paced vibe. Like the character she plays, Bates was already planning her retirement until she received the script for Matlock. 

Bates mentioned she was able to relate to her character, particularly Matlock’s penchant for channeling her grief through work. “Maybe on some deep level that’s why I was attracted to this,” she told her interviewer.

Towards the end of the conversation, Bates was visibly moved. “I have no right,” the actress said through her tears. “I see the state of the world, and here I am sitting in a posh restaurant in a posh town with a posh career, going home to a posh house, and what right do I have to cry,” she asked.

Skye P. Marshall, who acts alongside the renowned actress, credited Bates’ commitment to the project. 

“When she gets a script and she reads through it, you will see her challenge the directors, challenge the writers in a very healthy way,” Marshall shared.

“She is an all-around beautiful warrior who is so intuitive, so intelligent. and unwilling to tolerate any injustice for anyone,” she said.

Snyder Urman, the creator and producer, explained that the show highlights the experiences of older women. “I wanted to write about how older women are overlooked in society. And then I wanted the audience to enjoy being shocked by the underestimation. It’s a legal procedural, with a case of the week,” Urman revealed.

Fans can catch a sneak preview of Matlock on Sunday, September 22. It will then move over to its regular timeslot on Thursdays beginning October 10.