Kathy Bates is an undeniable force on stage, television, and screen, also known for her incredible work as a director. Throughout her career, she has won multiple awards, including Academy Award, Emmy Award, Golden Globe Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics Choice Award, all confirming her talent.
Born in 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee, she studied theatre at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1969.
The following year, she moved to New York City, where she worked odd jobs while pursuing an acting career. Despite a big-screen debut in 1971, her career took a slow start and she struggled to get roles.
"I was never an ingenue, I've always just been a character actor. When I was younger, it was a real problem, because I was never pretty enough. It was hard, not just for the lack of work, but because you have to face up to how people are looking at you," she once explained.
But when in the 1980s her Broadway career took off, she soon became one of theatre's top rising actresses.
Her Hollywood breakout happened in 1990, after 20 years in the industry, with her role in the psychological thriller “Misery”, based on Stephen King’s novel, for which she earned a best actress Academy Award.
Besides her unquestionable acting talent, she also forged a great career path as a director.
She helmed episodes of series such as “Homicide: Life on The Street”, “NYPD Blue”, and “Six Feet Under”, earning awards for her work.
Nevertheless, she has faced over the years different kind of struggles, including mental and physical health issues, turning her into a steadfast advocate. She has worked with various cancer charities, such as Stand Up to Cancer, shown a devoted commitment to finding cures, and spoken out in public about depression. And despite the hardships and treatments, she has never taken a year off without a project!
With a career spanning over five decades, she is without doubt a legendary actress and humankind. Whatever she chooses to do next, one should definitely check it out.