Kathy Bates Talks Matlock, Misery, and Why Filming Titanic Was a Struggle

Kathy Bates Opens Up About Hollywood: From 'Misery' to 'Matlock'

Kathy Bates has built a reputation as a powerhouse in Hollywood, but if you picture an overnight success story, try again. On The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the Oscar and Emmy-winning actress dropped a ton of unfiltered insight about her long road, her best roles, and the days that weren't so glamorous.

Before Bates terrified audiences as Annie Wilkes in Misery, she faced a stream of auditions and letdowns. It wasn't all glitz and glory. Finding success in her forties was far from typical in Hollywood, especially for a woman without the classic starlet look. Her journey before Misery went under the radar, filled with perseverance and a lot of grit. The role earned her Best Actress at the Oscars, but it also changed everything—suddenly, she wasn’t just another face on a casting sheet.

But things got complicated with James Cameron’s blockbuster, Titanic. Even though the movie smashed every kind of record and is still an all-time classic, Bates pulled back the curtain and admitted, bluntly, she didn’t enjoy filming it. The massive sets, long hours, and endless retakes made it a tough experience. You'd think watching your film take over the world would wipe away the hard memories, but Bates says that wasn’t the case. Even with Titanic’s wild success, it just wasn’t fun for her.

A New Era: Embracing 'Matlock' and Deep Characters

Switch over to today, and Bates is right back in the thick of it, now starring in the rebooted ABC drama Matlock. As Joanna Matlock, mother of Ben Matlock (played by Jonny Lee Miller), she’s digging into a character that’s anything but basic. No one-dimensional TV moms here—Bates says the role gives her the freedom to show off some real complexity, which is a big reason she signed on. This version isn’t just a nod to the past; it’s a chance for the actress to stretch her skills in new directions. Fans get to watch Bates do what she does best—disappear into a role and make you believe it, completely.

Through it all, podcast host Scott Feinberg didn’t let anything slip by. He steered Bates through her entire filmography, picking apart her approach to every project. Bates stood out in every story she shared: sometimes a villain, sometimes a hero, always memorable. Whether she’s running the show in a courtroom or wielding a sledgehammer, there's a reason people mention Kathy Bates and ‘character actress’ in the same breath.

This Awards Chatter episode didn’t just dust off old stories. It laid out, plain and simple, why Bates has become one of the most respected actresses in Hollywood—someone who embraces the gritty, the tough, and even the unglamorous sides of being an artist in a business that rarely loves you back the same way.