Kathy Bates ‘Was About to Say Sayonara’ to Acting Before ‘Matlock’: ‘It’s Very Hard as You Get Older’

Before the opportunity to play Matty Matlock came her way, Kathy Bates admitted that she considered stepping away from show business altogether.

“I was about to say sayonara before Matlock came along, because it’s very hard as you get older to find roles that you can spread your wings, but roles that people see you in,” she told E! News while attending the 2025 Screen Guild Actors Awards on Sunday, February 23. “And so I was really having second thoughts about whether to say goodbye.”

It was the writing for the “amazing character” Matty in Matlock that really gave Kathy, 76, the will to continue her work in Hollywood.

“When I read it, I saw it’s not just episodic, it has a whole substance underneath it, and we’re doing so well in all of the ratings. And it’s unbelievable. I just keep pinching myself,” she said.

Kathy was nominated at the 31st annual ceremony for the role in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series category. Ultimately, it was Anna Sawai who took home the award for her role in Shōgun.

The Misery actress first made headlines in September 2024 when she told The New York Times that she was entering the “last dance” in her career with Matlock.

“It becomes my life,” Kathy said. “Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent, because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.”

However, she later clarified that she was not planning on retiring after all.

“I think people got confused and thought I was going to retire,” the Oscar winner told People in October 2024. “What I meant was, how can it get any better? I would love for this to keep going.”

Kathy explained that as she aged, she found it increasingly difficult to find acting roles and opportunities that interested her. Luckily, Matlock has been the biggest blessing, bringing in great ratings and millions of viewers each episode.

“I remember calling my agents and saying, ‘I think maybe I want to go into, if not retirement, semi-retirement. If I can’t afford to keep my house, I’ll sell it and maybe go to New York,’” she recalled. “Then this happened. I couldn’t believe it.”

Kathy said that she got emotional when filming the last episode of Matlock in season 1.

“Matty says, ‘I want to be a lawyer, I love it so much,’” she reflected. “All I could think about was this: ‘We’re about to wrap tomorrow, and it’s bittersweet because I’ve never had an experience like this, like Matty, and I don’t want it to end.’ I love it so much.”

In October 2024, CBS announced that Matlock was renewed for season 2, which will air during the 2025-2026 broadcast season.

“This reconceived MATLOCK was devised by Jennie Snyder Urman with a brilliant surprise plot twist, and we knew we had something very special the moment we saw the first episode brought to life by the incredibly talented Kathy Bates,” Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment, said. “The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.”