10 Quick Questions for Kathy Bates

It is so unique. It really does have the flavor of the older production with Andy Griffith, but it’s new. The characters are so rich and well drawn. There’s a young woman, Skye P. Marshall — she plays one of the law firm partners, and we have some fantastic scenes together. I’m so excited. It’s fabulous. The pilot was created by Jennie Urman who did Jane the Virgin — she’s just fantastic. We had a great time.

You’re the only person to have won an Oscar for acting in a Stephen King movie, for your role in Misery. Are you a fan of his books? Do you have a favorite?

Yes, I am a fan and have been for many years. There’s one that I read not long ago called Joyland, which I loved, about a summer [amusement] park. The characters are wonderfully drawn. I was a fan of [the novel] Dolores Claiborne, which we got to make into a movie. He’s quite a character. He invited me many years ago to play a very small part in The Stand, and I was reluctant. He said, “Follow your bliss,” which was a wonderful thing to say to a young performer.

You did your first nude scene at age 43 in At Play in the Fields of the Lord, and you disrobed again for About Schmidt in 2002. How were those experiences? Would you do another nude scene?

No, I would never do it again. I’m not even really comfortable doing love scenes. About Schmidt was quite fun with Jack Nicholson. We sort of sat in the tub and we actually talked about Winston Churchill and how he was a painter because Jack is also a wonderful artist. I had a cosmopolitan before I got in the tub for a little Dutch courage. I’ve had a double mastectomy since then, but in those days, when we were doing the scene, I had my breasts, and they would always float up to the surface, so that was difficult.

You’ve overcome ovarian and breast cancer, and you’re an advocate for those who also suffer from lymphedema. How do you prioritize your health?

I haven’t been very good lately. I’m doing this wonderful film [Summer Camp] in Asheville, North Carolina, with Diane Keaton and Alfre Woodard and Eugene Levy. It’s a wonderful cast, but there’s a lot of physical activity that I just didn’t prepare for. I’ve been suffering a bit lately with swollen arms. I went to a head shop and picked up some CBD ointment, which seems to have helped a lot with the pain. I do a manual lymph drainage massage on my arms — that’s really the best I can do. I’m very proud of the work that we’ve done with the Lymphatic Education & Research Network. We’ve made great progress. We have a national commission on lymphedema at the NIH [National Institutes of Health]. We’ve worked very hard to accomplish that. It’s been slow but sure.

Your 75th birthday is coming up in June. Do you have any big plans?

I actually hadn’t thought about it until you brought it up! God willing, I will probably be in Los Angeles. I might do something really quiet with my family. Days like that, especially when they’re big numbers like 50 or 75, I like to spend some of that day meditating on the past and on those things I’ve been so lucky to experience and things I wish I hadn’t experienced …  kind of an inventory time. If there’s a friend or two around, I’ll go and have a martini and raise a glass.

What are some of the things you’ll reflect on for this birthday?

To reflect on the fact that I’ve been in this business for 50 years. I have to say, over the last 10 years, thank the good Lord for Ryan Murphy. After that summer when I had my mastectomy, he gave me a real boost [when he cast me in American Horror Story]. He gave me a new life and introduced me to a new demographic to start my third act. I’ll always be grateful to him for that opportunity. Every day I just thank my lucky stars. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love to do.