Honestly, Kathy Bates should have been done by now. She said it herself. Not too long ago, the Oscar winner was ready to pack up her scripts, head to her Los Angeles home, and spend more time with her dog, Zelda. She was tired of the "invisible" roles usually handed to women over seventy. She was frustrated by a film experience so draining it almost broke her spirit.
But then Kathy Bates now happened.
If you’ve seen her lately—maybe on a red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globes or the Critics Choice Awards—you’ll notice something is very different. She isn't just "still working." She is having the absolute time of her life. The actress who once made us terrified of hobbling in Misery has reinvented herself for a final act that is looking less like a retirement and more like a total takeover of network television.
The Matlock Pivot That Changed Everything
When the news first broke that CBS was rebooting Matlock, everyone assumed it would be a dusty, nostalgic procedural. You know the type. A gender-swapped version of the Andy Griffith classic that plays it safe for the 8 p.m. crowd.
Bates thought so too, initially. But the script for this new Madeline "Matty" Matlock had a sting in its tail. It wasn’t just a lawyer show; it was a Trojan horse.
Matty is a woman who uses the "invisibility" of being a senior citizen to slide under the radar, eavesdrop in elevators, and outmaneuver high-priced attorneys who don't even bother to look her in the eye. It’s a role that mirrors Bates’ own reality. She’s been vocal about how society stops seeing women as they age. In Matlock, she turned that societal blind spot into a superpower.
The show has been a monster hit. By the time 2026 rolled around, we weren't just talking about a lucky first season. We’re talking about a cultural mainstay that earned her a 2025 Critics Choice Award (where she famously dropped a few shocked F-bombs on stage) and a 2026 Golden Globe nomination.
Is she still retiring?
That's the big question. In late 2024, she told The New York Times that Matlock would be her "last dance." It sounded so definitive. Fans were heartbroken.
But success is a hell of a drug.
By the time the second season was in full swing, she started walking those comments back. She told People magazine that she’d love for the show to run for five years. She’s even stepped behind the camera to direct episodes. Basically, as long as the writing stays sharp and her health holds up, Kathy isn't going anywhere.
The 100-Pound Transformation
You can't talk about Kathy Bates now without mentioning the physical shift. It’s impossible to ignore. She has lost 100 pounds over the last six or seven years, and she’s been incredibly transparent about how she did it.
It wasn’t some overnight Hollywood miracle.
It started with a terrifying Type 2 diabetes diagnosis back in 2017. Her father had struggled with the same disease, even facing a leg amputation, and her sister was dealing with it too. It "scared her straight," as she puts it.
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She began with the basics. She stopped the late-night grazing. She started listening for what she calls the "involuntary sigh"—that moment during a meal when your body actually tells you it’s full if you’re quiet enough to listen.
The Ozempic Factor
Unlike a lot of celebrities who dodge the question, Kathy has been real about the "finish line." She lost the first 80 pounds through sheer discipline and lifestyle changes. For the final 20, she admitted to using a GLP-1 medication (like Ozempic) to help her cross the threshold and maintain the progress.
The result? She says she hasn’t been this slim since college. But it’s not about the dress size. It’s about the fact that at 77, she can stand on a set for 14 hours a day. She can move. She can breathe. For a woman who has survived both ovarian and breast cancer, this vitality is a hard-won victory.
Living with Lymphedema
There is a layer of Kathy’s life that most fans don't see beneath the glamour of the 2026 awards season. After her double mastectomy in 2012, she developed lymphedema. It’s a chronic condition where lymph fluid builds up, usually in the arms or legs, causing painful swelling.
For a long time, she was angry. She thought her career was over because she’d have to wear heavy compression sleeves all the time.
But she didn't just hide it. She became a spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). She’s been to Washington D.C. to lobby for research funding.
Ironically, the weight loss she pursued for her diabetes ended up being the best treatment for her lymphedema. While it’s not "cured"—it never really is—she’s reached a point where she doesn't have to wear her compression gear every single day. She’s managing a "souvenir" of cancer with a grace most people wouldn't have.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
Maybe it’s because she’s so refreshingly un-Hollywood.
In a world of filtered Instagram posts, Kathy Bates shows up to award shows, gets genuinely shocked when she wins, and talks about her niece's diet tips. She’s the person who will walk the red carpet with a new co-star like Henry Haber (who joined Matlock as the "bro" associate Hunter) and look like she’s having more fun than the twenty-somethings.
She’s also a reminder that the best work of your life doesn't have to happen in your thirties. Matlock has given her a chance to play a professional, modern, multi-dimensional woman who isn't just someone’s grandmother. She’s the smartest person in the room.
What to expect next
The 2026 season of Matlock is pushing the "Wellbrexa" storyline to a head, and ratings remain solid despite the shift in how people watch TV these days. Bates is heavily involved in the creative process now. She’s no longer just an actor for hire; she’s an executive producer who has a say in how Madeline Matlock's story ends—whenever that may be.
Moving Forward Like Kathy
If you're looking for a "Kathy Bates" approach to your own life or career, the takeaways are pretty clear. It isn't about some grand, sweeping change; it's about the small, gritty stuff.
- Listen to the signals. Whether it’s that "fullness sigh" during dinner or a gut feeling about a job, pay attention to what your body is telling you.
- Use your "invisibility." If people are underestimating you because of your age, your background, or your looks, use that as a tactical advantage. Let them be surprised when you win.
- Don't be afraid to pivot. Kathy was ready to retire. She changed her mind. It’s okay to say "I'm done" and then realize you have one more great act left in you.
To keep up with the latest on her 2026 season and health advocacy, you can follow the updates from the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) or catch new episodes of Matlock on CBS and Paramount+.