Kathy Bates Shares Rare Health Update After Drastic Weight Loss Journey

Kathy Bates is offering fans some insight into the drastic weight loss she's undergone over the years.

In a new interview with Variety about her latest series, Matlock—her first starring role after several years of featured spots—the Misery star opened up about the toll being the lead takes on her stamina, something it sounds like she's not so sure she could have handled a decade ago.

“It’s helped me tremendously that, over the last six or seven years, I’ve lost 100 pounds,” she told the publication, revealing that she hasn't "been this slim since...college.”

In 2011, when she starred in NBC's Harry's Law, the actress was at her heaviest weight, which she admitted made it "hard for [her] to walk."

“I had to sit down every moment that I could," she said. "I’m ashamed I let myself get so out of shape, but now I have a tremendous amount of energy.”

In 2019, the American Horror Story personality spoke with Extra, telling the outlet that she was in "the best health [she'd] been in in years."

"I'm so grateful," she added, calling it "a miracle."

The actress was at risk of diabetes, which runs in her family, and also suffers post-cancer lymphedema. After losing the first round of weight, she told People she was “feeling great,” and that the loss had "really helped" with her symptoms.

And, despite recent reports that her retirement is near, she's looking forward to “several years” on her new series before reaching that point.

“I can’t believe I’m saying that about doing episodic TV, but this has been so much of a challenge and a delight,” she said. “Matty is certainly my magic carpet right now, and I want her to go sailing on for quite a long time.”

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