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In a recent interview with The New York Times, Bates, 76, expressed her plans to step away from acting, calling this moment her “last dance.”
Reflecting on her career, Bates shared that acting has, at times, consumed her life, leaving little room for personal space. “It becomes my life,” Bates explained. “Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent, because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.” She added that she often felt out of place in the industry, noting, “I never felt dressed right or well. I felt like a misfit.”
Bates’ Decision To Retire After A Bad Experience
Bates’ decision to retire was nearly solidified after a bad experience on the set of an unnamed film, which left her in tears and contemplating quitting the profession for good.
However, that plan changed when she was offered the role of Madeline Matlock in the upcoming Matlock reboot.
Bates felt a strong connection to the character, a brilliant septuagenarian lawyer who returns to the workforce and uses her cunning tactics to win cases and expose corruption.
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“Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it,” Bates noted. “It’s exhausting.”
This role in Matlock—which is a gender-swapped version of the original series that starred Andy Griffith from 1986 to 1995—marks Bates’ last major on-screen appearance.
The series, premiering on CBS on September 22, also features Jason Ritter, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis, portraying Bates’ younger colleagues. Viewers will have the chance to watch it later on Paramount+.
Bates Acting Impressive Acting Résumé
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Bates’ impressive acting résumé includes iconic performances in films such as Misery—for which she won an Academy Award—Titanic, Fried Green Tomatoes, and The Waterboy.
She also made notable television appearances in shows like American Horror Story: Coven, Six Feet Under, The Office, Two and a Half Men, and Feud. Despite her illustrious career, Bates shared that she never aspired to be a movie star, saying, “I just wanted to be the best I could be.”
Fans of Bates have one last opportunity to see her grace the screen in Matlock, a fitting finale for a career marked by versatility, dedication, and exceptional talent.
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