Kathy Bates has opened up about her thoughts on retirement just before she landed a significant role in CBS’s reboot of “Matlock.” Despite an illustrious career spanning five decades, Bates found herself contemplating stepping away from acting in recent years. It was only after reading the script for the gender-flipped “Matlock” that she reconsidered her decision.
In a candid interview with Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series in June 2025, Bates shared, “Let’s say it was a conscious choice. I watched a couple of episodes of the original ‘Matlock’ series to see what I could get out of it, but our show is just so different. I feel like this part was written with me in mind.” The series creator, Jennie Snyder Urman, had a vision that resonated with Bates, especially when she learned that the initial concept involved her character being Andy Griffith’s great-great-granddaughter. “So she’d be 30-something,” Bates said, expressing her excitement about portraying a character that reflects her own experiences.
Bates was particularly thrilled to have the opportunity to tell authentic stories about aging and the often-overlooked narratives of older women. “Jennie took a walk, and it came to her that she wanted to write something about older women and feeling invisible,” Bates explained. Initially skeptical about the script, she was captivated by a surprising plot twist at the end, which prompted her to fully commit to the project. “I said, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m in. I’m in.’ Because I really had one foot out the door,” she admitted.
In September 2024, Bates stirred headlines when she hinted that “Matlock” could be her final project, stating in an interview with The New York Times, “This is my last dance.” She revealed that a previous film shoot had left her disillusioned with acting, but “Matlock” reignited her passion. “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 reflected, acknowledging the exhaustion that comes with such a demanding role.
However, in October 2024, Bates clarified her comments to People, noting that her intention was not to retire but rather to express how fulfilling her current work felt. “What I meant was, how can it get any better? I would love for this to keep going,” she said. She also opened up about her frustrations regarding the limited roles available for women her age, recalling a moment when she considered semi-retirement. “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 shared. “Then this happened. I couldn’t believe it.”
Bates’s career took a transformative turn when she was cast in Ryan Murphy’s anthology series “American Horror Story.” In a January 2025 episode of the “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, she credited Murphy with rejuvenating her career after a challenging period. “Right before he gave me the opportunity to do the show, I had breast cancer and [my show] ‘Harry’s Law’ had been canceled rather unpleasantly,” she recalled. This tumultuous time left her feeling humiliated and uncertain about her future in acting.
By June 2025, Bates reflected on her journey, revealing that she had indeed felt like she was on the verge of retiring. “I just felt that I was getting small roles in films that I loved that people were not seeing,” she shared during her interview. “I just began to ask myself, ‘Is this what I want to keep doing? Do I want to sell the house and maybe move to France and call it a day?’ And then I got this script. It just fit me like a glove.”
Bates’s story is a testament to the resilience and passion that can reignite a career, even after moments of doubt. As she embraces her role in “Matlock,” fans can look forward to seeing her continue to shine on screen, proving that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing one’s dreams.