Renowned actress Kathy Bates showcases her exceptional talent on screen, potentially capturing the attention of Emmy voters once again with her compelling performances.

This year, Bates, an iconic figure in both theater and television, stands on the brink of breaking Emmy records. With her captivating portrayal in CBS’s highly anticipated “Matlock” reboot, she is set to make history as the oldest nominee ever in the lead drama actress category at the remarkable age of 77.

Born on June 28, 1948, Bates will be just two weeks past her birthday when the 2025 Emmy nominations are revealed on July 17. Should her name be announced—an outcome many industry insiders predict, with her being a frontrunner in the category—she would break the longstanding record held by Angela Lansbury, who was 70 during her final nomination in 1996 for “Murder, She Wrote.”

In the “Matlock” series, Bates embodies the character of Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a woman returning to the legal arena decades after her retirement under tragic circumstances. Publicly, her narrative is one of loss and financial ruin due to her late husband’s gambling addiction, forcing her to raise her grandson after the heartbreaking death of her daughter in a car accident. She joins the prestigious law firm Jacobson Moore, where she finds herself reporting to a sharp junior partner named Olympia, despite her wealth of legal experience accumulated over the years.

Yet, beneath this surface, Matlock harbors a deeper, hidden identity.

Her true name is Madeline Kingston—a woman of means who is still happily married but is driven by a secret vendetta. The profound loss she truly mourns is that of her daughter, who tragically succumbed to an opioid overdose. Her transformation into “Matlock”—a clever nod to the beloved original TV series—serves as part of a meticulously crafted plan to seek justice for her daughter’s untimely death.

Kathy Bates masterfully navigates this duality with her signature nuance, presenting audiences with a character rich in wit, determination, and profound heartbreak. This role is perfectly suited for an actress of her remarkable caliber, and early reviews indicate that Emmy voters are indeed taking notice of her compelling performance.

This upcoming nomination would not mark Bates’ first moment in the Emmy spotlight. She has previously won two Emmy Awards—one for her role in “Two and a Half Men” in the guest comedy actress category and another for “American Horror Story: Coven” in the supporting actress category (limited series). Additionally, she was nominated for the lead drama actress category in 2012 for her outstanding work in “Harry’s Law,” portraying Harriet Korn, a fierce and principled attorney. At that time, she was 64, making her the fifth oldest nominee in the history of the category.

Widely respected in the Hollywood industry, Bates is also an Academy Award winner for her unforgettable performance as an obsessive fan in “Misery” (1990) and a Tony Award nominee for lead actress in a play for her role in the 1983 production of “’night, Mother.”

A nomination for “Matlock” would undoubtedly position Bates among esteemed acting legends who achieved Emmy nominations in remarkable second acts of their careers, including Cicely Tyson (“Sweet Justice,” age 70), Imelda Staunton (“The Crown,” age 68), and Glenn Close (“Damages,” age 65).

Below is a list of the ten oldest nominees in the lead drama actress category that Bates would surpass:

As of 2025, Close holds the record for being the oldest winner in the category at 65. If Bates wins the award, she will shatter this record by an impressive 12 years. It has been a decade since a woman from a network television series has won this category—specifically Viola Davis for her role in ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder,” and 11 years since CBS has claimed this category with Julianna Margulies for “The Good Wife” in 2014.

In this competitive race, Bates is up against talented nominees such as Keri Russell (“The Diplomat”), Britt Lower (“Severance”), and Bella Ramsey, who became the fourth-youngest nominee in the category in 2023 at just 19 for her performance in “The Last of Us.”

In contrast, in the lead drama actor category, Anthony Hopkins currently holds the record as the oldest nominee at 79 for his 2017 performance in “Westworld.”

Explore the Latest Emmy Award Predictions Below:

Variety Awards Circuit: Emmys

In an industry often critiqued for its treatment of older women, Bates continues to challenge and redefine the opportunities available for actresses of a certain age. Her compelling performance in “Matlock” has already garnered her a Critics Choice Award earlier this year, where she triumphed over the critically acclaimed Anna Sawai for “Shōgun.”

Alongside Bates, CBS is executing a robust awards campaign for “Matlock” across multiple categories. The network is also putting forward supporting drama nominees such as Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis, while veteran actor Beau Bridges, aged 83, will compete in the guest drama actor category, placing him among the top 10 oldest nominees in the category’s history. Additionally, writer and executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman will submit the pilot for consideration.

Regardless of whether Bates secures the Emmy, a nomination would represent yet another significant milestone in a career filled with achievements, further solidifying Kathy Bates as one of the most revered and resilient talents of her generation.

Mark your calendars: the two-part season finale of “Matlock” airs on April 17 on CBS.

Be sure to check out this week’s Emmy predictions across key series and acting categories below. For a comprehensive breakdown of each Primetime Emmy race, visit our main awards page, and explore the official rankings on each individual category page.

Dramatic Series Nominees
“Andor”
“The Diplomat”
“The Last of Us”
“The Pit”
“Severance”
“Slow Horses”
“Squid Game”
“The White Lotus”

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Day of the Jackal”
Adam Scott, “Severance”
Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman”
Noah Wyle, “The Pit”

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
Britt Lower, “Severance”
Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Zach Cherry, “Severance”
Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”
Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”
Young Mazino, “The Last of Us”
Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”
Tramell Tillman, “Severance”
John Turturro, “Severance”

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adria Arjona, “Andor”
Patricia Arquette, “Severance”
Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”
Kaitlyn Dever, “The Last of Us”
Allison Janney, “The Diplomat”
Katherine LaNasa, “The Pit”
Catherine O’Hara, “The Last of Us”
Parker Posey, “The White Lotus”

Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Andy Garcia, “Landman”
Scott Glenn, “The White Lotus”
Shawn Hatosy, “The Pit”
Joe Pantoliano, “The Last of Us”
Jeffrey Wright, “The Last of Us”

Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, “Severance”
Fiona Shaw, “Bad Sisters”
Hilary Swank, “Yellowjackets”
Tracey Ullman, “Black Doves”
Merritt Wever, “Severance”

Comedy Series Nominees
“Abbott Elementary”
“The Bear”
“The Four Seasons”
“Hacks”
“Nobody Wants This”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Shrinking”
“The Studio”

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Seth Rogen, “The Studio”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Tina Fey, “The Four Seasons”
Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio”
Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”
Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”
Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
Ebon Moss-Bach, “The Bear”
Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
Linda Lavin, “Mid-Century Modern”
Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Bernthal, “The Bear”
John Cena, “The Bear”
Bryan Cranston, “The Studio”
Timothée Chalamet, “Saturday Night Live”
Christopher McDonald, “Hacks”
Martin Scorsese, “The Studio”

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Bear”
Cynthia Erivo, “Poker Face”
Ariana Grande, “Saturday Night Live”
Melissa McCarthy, “Only Murders in the Building”
Julianne Nicholson, “Hacks”
Sarah Polley, “The Studio”

Limited or Anthology Series Nominees
“Adolescence”
“Black Mirror”
“Disclaimer”
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
“The Penguin”

Television Film Nominees
“Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy”
“The Gorge”
“Mountainhead”
“Out of My Mind”
“Rebel Ridge”

Lead Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Film)
Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
Paul Giamatti, “Black Mirror”
Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”
Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Lead Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Film)
Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”
Ellen Pompeo, “Good American Family”
Amanda Seyfried, “Long Bright River”
Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex”

Supporting Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Film)
Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”
Jay Duplass, “Dying for Sex”
Rhenzy Feliz, “The Penguin”
Diego Luna, “La Máquina”
Ashley Walters, “Adolescence”

Supporting Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Film)
Emma Corrin, “Black Mirror”
Erin Doherty, “Adolescence”
Lesley Manville, “Disclaimer”
Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin”
Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”
Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”