5 Kathy Bates Roles You Have to Check Out After Matlock

Kathy Bates is an acting powerhouse whose range, depth and commitment to every role have made her one of Hollywood's most respected stars.

While some younger fans may have discovered her through her iconic Matlock show, her legacy is far richer. From terrifying to tender, from dramatic to darkly funny, these five roles are a must-watch for those who crave more of Bates’ talent.

1. Misery (1990)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Misery has 91% from critics and 90% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Misery has 7.8/10.

This career-defining role earned Bates an Academy Award for Best Actress, and for good reason. As Annie Wilkes, the obsessed fan who holds her favorite author hostage, Bates gave a performance that was as chilling as it was tragically humane.

The role of Annie required a balance between a woman who could go from sweet to psychotic in a single breath, and Bates made it frighteningly believable. The way she owned Annie's twisted psyche made this Stephen King adaptation a psychological thriller classic, and it remains one of the most iconic performances in horror history.

2. Dolores Claiborne (1995)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Dolores Claiborne has 86% from critics and 82% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Dolores Claiborne has 7.4/10.

Another Stephen King adaptation, Dolores Claiborne had Bates in a completely different kind of role. This time Bates was portraying a working-class woman accused of murdering her employer. But she still delivered a raw and emotionally layered performance.

“I read somewhere that King was so impressed by Bates in Misery, that when he wrote Dolores Claiborne, he had Kathy Bates in mind for the part,” one Redditor said.

Dolores is tough, but resilient and deeply protective of her daughter. Bates brought real empathy to the role, transforming a character who could have easily been one-note into a complex figure.

3. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Fried Green Tomatoes has 76% from critics and 87% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Fried Green Tomatoes has 7.7/10.

Fans of female-centric cinema will definitely find this movie perfect. Fried Green Tomatoes centers on Bates' disaffected housewife Evelyn, who befriends a charming elderly woman named Ninny at a nursing home. The old lady tells so many captivating stories about people she has known, which blows Evelyn's mind.

This role made sure that Kathy Bates was seen in a different light, coming right after her award-winning darker performance in Misery. Fried Green Tomatoes is a light and entertaining film that was perfect for showcasing Kathy's range.

4. About Schmidt (2002)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, About Schmidt has 86% from critics and 74% from viewers.
• On IMDb, About Schmidt has 7.2/10

In this dark comedy directed by Alexander Payne, Bates played Roberta Hertzel, the eccentric and free-spirited mother of a bride who is marrying the daughter of Jack Nicholson's iconic character. Bates brought warmth to a role that required her to be unselfconscious, both physically and emotionally.

Her bathtub scene with Nicholson is legendary not only for its shock value, but for her absolute comfort in her own skin. She managed to steal scenes with humor and heart, and that turned what could have been a supporting role into one of the film's most memorable characters.

5. Primary Colors (1998)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Primary Colors has 80% from critics and 64% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Primary Colors has 6.7/10

In this political drama loosely based on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, Bates played Libby Holden, a fiercely loyal and morally principled political fixer. Her performance was brilliant: it was both funny and heartbreaking.

Libby is a truth-teller in a world built on lies, and Bates captured that struggle with every furious line she had. The role even earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.