Who can forget Kathy Bates’ Oscar-winning performance as the psychotic fan of a bestselling author in director Rob Reiner’s 1990 thriller Misery, adapted from Stephen King’s 1987 novel? Known for her intense demeanour and powerhouse finesse, the Hollywood veteran has acted in several memorable films in her decades-long career.
The 77-year-old has now made Emmy history as the oldest performer to have ever been nominated in the ‘Lead Drama Actress’ category. She is recognised for her role in the reboot of Jennie Snyder Urman’s legal drama series Matlock, also starring Skye P Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio and Leah Lewis. The show is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Here’s a quick recap of some of Kathy Bates’ best performances…
As Annie Wilkes in Misery (1990)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Kathy Bates won the ‘Academy Award for Best Actress’ for her outstanding lead performance in director Rob Reiner’s 1990 psychological horror thriller Misery. The film’s screenplay (by William Goldman) is based on Stephen King’s 1987 novel of the same name. The movie also stars James Caan, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth and Lauren Bacall.
As Evelyn Couch in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Streaming on Apple TV+
Starring Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker and Cicely Tyson, Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy-drama inspired by Fannie Flagg’s 1987 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. The movie is helmed by Jon Avnet, while Fannie and Carol Sobieski have penned its screenplay.
As Dolores Claiborne in Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Streaming on Apple TV+
Directed by Taylor Hackford, Kathy Bates plays the titular role in the 1995 psychological thriller drama Dolores Claiborne. The movie also features Jennifer Jason Leigh, Christopher Plummer and David Strathairn in pivotal roles. Penned by Tony Gilroy, the screenplay is inspired by Stephen King’s 1992 novel of the same name.
As Helen Kushnick in The Late Shift (1996)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The Betty Thomas-directed biographical film The Late Shift was released in 1996, starring Kathy Bates, John Michael Higgins, Daniel Roebuck, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr and Treat Williams. The movie is based on journalist Bill Carter’s 1994 non-fiction book The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for the Night. Kathy won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the film.
As Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown in Titanic (1997)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Kathy Bates plays a memorable historical figure in writer-director James Cameron’s cinematic masterpiece Titanic. The 1997 epic romantic disaster film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher and Bernard Hill, among others. Based on true events chronicling the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912, the movie received as many as 11 Academy Awards, alongside several other accolades.
As Libby Holden in Primary Colors (1998)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Kathy Bates’ performance in the Mike Nichols-directed 1998 film Primary Colors won her an ‘Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress’ nomination. The comedy-drama – adapted by Elaine May from Joe Klein’s 1996 book Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics – also stars John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maura Tierney, Larry Hagman and Adrian Lester.
As Roberta Hertzel in About Schmidt (2002)
Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video
Co-written and directed by Alexander Payne, About Schmidt is a 2002 comedy drama featuring Jack Nicholson as the title character, alongside Kathy Bates, Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney in key roles. The screenplay of the movie, written by Alexander and Jim Taylor, is loosely based on Louis Begley’s 1996 novel of the same name.
As Gertrude Stein in Midnight in Paris (2011)
Streaming on Apple TV+
Written and directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy comedy featuring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Michael Sheen and Kathy Bates in the lead. The critically acclaimed film won the Oscar for ‘Best Original Screenplay’ and the Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Screenplay’.
As Sylvia Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Streaming on SonyLIV
Inspired by Judy Blume’s 1970 novel of the same name, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is a 2023 coming-of-age movie, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The comedy-drama features Abby Ryder Fortson in the titular role, together with Kathy Bates, Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham and Benny Safdie as pivotal characters.
As Edith Wilson in The Great Lillian Hall (2024)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Loosely based on the life of American stage actress Marian Seldes, The Great Lillian Hall is a television film, helmed by Michael Cristofer. The movie features Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Pierce Brosnan, Lily Rabe and Jesse Williams as the lead characters. Its screenplay is written by Elisabeth Seldes-Annacone, who happens to be the niece of Marian.
