Kathy Bates gets emotional upon realizing she mentioned her mom in her Oscar speech: ‘What a relief’
Kathy Bates recently felt a significant relief during an interview when she learned her memories of her Oscar acceptance speech were incorrect.
During her chat with “CBS Sunday Morning,” the 76-year-old “Matlock” star expressed regret over not thanking her mother when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Misery” in 1991. However, journalist Ben Mankiewicz reminded her that she had indeed thanked her mom during the speech.
“You actually thanked her at the end of your speech,” Mankiewicz pointed out. “You did thank her.”
“No, I didn’t,” Bates responded. “I did not. Go back and check it. I didn’t.”
Mankiewicz then showed her a clip of her speech, where she thanked “my mom at home.” Bates was visibly surprised, covering her mouth and becoming emotional.
“Thank you,” she expressed to Mankiewicz. “Why did I think I hadn’t thanked her? Oh, what a relief.”
The “Fried Green Tomatoes” actress shared that this moment held great significance for her because her mother, a housewife who supported her acting dreams, “should have had my life.”
“After she passed, I said, ‘Come into me,'” Bates reflected. “I wanted her spirit to be within me. Despite our struggles, I wanted her to enjoy everything I experienced because of her sacrifices. Wow, thank you for that.”
Bates is presently starring in CBS’ “Matlock,” a reboot of the classic legal drama. In an interview with The New York Times last month, she mentioned delaying retirement plans to take part in the show. “This is my final performance,” she revealed to the Times.
However, during her conversation with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Bates clarified that she is “not retiring,” expressing, “I would love to continue with the show for as long as it lasts, and I hope it enjoys a lengthy run.”