Kathy Bates is one of the most versatile and hardest working actresses in Hollywood. As much a fixture on TV as she is in films (Bates has FOURTEEN Emmy nominations), Bates has enormous range. For someone who looks like a cuddly grandma, she can be absolutely terrifying (Misery & American Horror Story) and a bulldozing force of nature (The Late Shift, Primary Colors). She is always a joy to watch and brings any project she’s in up to another level.
Kathy Bates’s Best 10
1. Misery (1990) Annie Wilkes
2. Feud (2017) Joan Blondell
3. The Late Shift (1997) Helen Kushnick
4. Fried Green Tomatoes (1992) Eveyln Couch
5. Primary Colors (1999) Libby Holden
6. A Civil Action (1998) Bankruptcy Judge
7. About Scmidt (2002) Roberta Hertzel
8. The Blind Side (2009) Miss Sue
9. Dolores Claiborne (1995) Dolores Claiborne
10. Titanic (1999) Molly Brown
Honorable Mention: American Horror Story (2013-2016-FX)
Oscars, Golden Globes & Emmys
Oscar Wins (1): Misery (1991)
Oscar Nominations (3): Misery (1991), Primary Colors (1999), About Schmidt (2003)
Golden Globe Wins (2): Misery (1991), The Late Shift (1997)
Golden Globe Nominations (7): Misery (1991), Fried Green Tomatoes (1992), The Late Shift (1997), Primary Colors (1999), Annie (2000), About Schmidt (2003), American Horror Story (2015)
Emmy Wins (2): Two and a Half Men (2012-Best Guest Star), American Horror Story (2014)
Emmy Nominations (14): The Late Shift (1996), Third Rock from the Sun (1999-Best Guest Star), Dash & Lilly (1999-Directing), Annie (2000), Six Feet Under (2003-Best Guest Star), Warm Springs (2005), Ambulance Girl (2006), Alice (2010), Harry’s Law (2011), Harry’s Law (2012), Two and a Half Men (2012-Best Guest Star), American Horror Story (2014, 2015, 2016)
My Favorite Bates Scene:
“Parking Lot Rage” from Fried Green Tomatoes (1992)
Next Film: Bates will star in 2017 with William H. Macy in Krystal before shooting season two of her Netflix series Disjointed next year.
I agree with “Misery” at number one. I don’t know why but for me the most memorable performance of hers is in “Revolutionary Road”. She was just so spot-on as Mrs. Givings there. Perhaps, I should watch more of her films/series.
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Honestly I loathe that movie
Mendes makes some of the best films but its such an unpleasant film, Bates is glue. You put her in an ensemble and you doubled its effectiveness. Definitely check out The Late Shift and Feud
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I love Road to Perdition and Skyfall, but the fact that Mendes made both American Beauty and Revolutionary Road is hard to forgive.
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And Spectre
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I can’t fault any of these movies from a technical standpoint, I just don’t like them, on a visceral level. I’m not sure I’m interested in Jame Bond anymore.
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I’m not. At all. Couldn’t care less amd that was entirely Spectes fault.
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Stand By Me, Shawshank, and Green Mile are all better than Misery, but Misery is the one adaptation of a genuine King horror novel that works, IMO (I’m not counting The Shining, because its effectiveness has nothing to do with King’s book). Bates is terrifying. They kind of made it a black comedy (the book is not) and Bates embodies a weird, evil tone.
I love Molly Brown too. When that boat does not go back at the end of the film, her presence makes it better instead of more frustrating, because we knew there was at least one representative for humanity there. Bates gives the best, most real performance in that movie.
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Thats why I put it on her list but not Kate Winslets
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Delores Clabourne – watched it late one night, not even knowing what it was about just that she was in it – bloody brilliant.
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She typically is
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