When it comes to her social media usage, Kathy Bates‘ family has an objection.
“I’m not allowed to be on Instagram,” the Matlock star revealed in an exclusive interview with E! News’ Erin Lim at the 2025 Screen Guild Actors Awards Feb. 23, “because my niece Linda says I’ll read five million great ones and one bad one, and I’ll fixate on the bad.” (Check out all the stars on the red carpet here.)
Though when it comes to how beloved she is by fans, she’s viewed exhibit A: The thoughts on her meme-worthy reaction to winning Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Matlock at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards.
“I was like, I don’t have a speech,” Bates revealed of her stunned look. “That’s what that was about.”
And, yet, she had quite the persuasive argument when she stepped on stage, announcing her plan to gift the trophy to the series’ executive producer Eric Christian Olsen, who lost his Pacific Palisades home in the devastating L.A. wildfires.
And she has two chances of taking the stage at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall near downtown Los Angeles.
In addition to being nominated once again for Matlock—facing off with Bridgerton‘s Nicola Coughlan, The Diplomat‘s Allison Janney and Keri Russell and Shogun‘s Anna Sawai in the drama series category—the Oscar winner is also up for the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series trophy at the SAG Awards, nominated alongside Cate Blanchett, Jodie Foster, Lily Gladstone, Jessica Gunning and Cristin Milioti. (See all the winners here.)
And yet she almost rested her case in Hollywood after a 50-year career.
“I was about it to say sayonara before Matlock came along,” the 76-year-old admitted, “because it’s very hard as you get older to find roles that you can spread your wings, but roles that people see you in. And so I was really having second thoughts about whether to say goodbye.”
Then executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman presented quite the convincing case.
Praising the “amazing character” Urman created, Bates gushed, “It has a whole substance underneath it, and we’re doing so well in all of the ratings. And it’s unbelievable. I just keep pinching myself.”
So win, lose or get memed, she’s thrilled to be recognized by her fellow SAG-AFTRA members.
“I think they know what it takes to do this work and they know it’s hard to get the job, first of all, and how to make it look easy,” Bates explained of the honor. “So, you know, to get a nomination from them means a great deal to me. So win or lose, I feel like I’ve gotten their accolade, and I’m very proud of it.”
Keep reading to see all the winners who thanked their SAG-AFTRA peers.
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
A Complete Unknown
Anora
WINNER: Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Pamela Anderson—The Last Showgirl
Cynthia Erivo—Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón—Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison—Anora
WINNER: Demi Moore—The Substance
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody—The Brutalist
WINNER: Timothée Chalamet—A Complete Unknown
Daniel Craig—Queer
Colman Domingo—Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes—Conclave
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Monica Barbaro—A Complete Unknown
Jamie Lee Curtis—The Last Showgirl
Danielle Deadwyler—The Piano Lesson
Ariana Grande—Wicked
WINNER: Zoe Saldaña— Emilia Pérez
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Jonathan Bailey—Wicked
Yura Borisov—Anora
WINNER: Kieran Culkin—A Real Pain
Edward Norton— A Complete Unknown
Jeremy Strong—The Apprentice
Outstanding Action Performance By a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Deadpool & Wolverine
Dune: Part Two
WINNER: The Fall Guy
Gladiator II
Wicked
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Bridgerton
The Day of The Jackal
The Diplomat
WINNER: Shogun
Slow Horses
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates—Matlock
Nicola Coughlan—Bridgerton
Allison Janney—The Diplomat
Keri Russell—The Diplomat
WINNER: Anna Sawai—Shogun
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Tadanobu Asano—Shogun
Jeff Bridges—The Old Man
Gary Oldman—Slow Horses
Eddie Redmayne—The Day of The Jackal
WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada—Shogun
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
WINNER: Only Murders in The Building
Shrinking
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Kristen Bell—Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson—Abbott Elementary
Liza Colón-Zayas—The Bear
Ayo Edebiri—The Bear
WINNER: Jean Smart—Hacks
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody—Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson —A Man on The Inside
Harrison Ford—Shrinking
WINNER: Martin Short—Only Murders in The Building
Jeremy Allen White—The Bear
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Javier Bardem—Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
WINNER: Colin Farrell—The Penguin
Richard Gadd—Baby Reindeer
Kevin Kline—Disclaimer
Andrew Scott—Ripley
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Kathy Bates—The Great Lillian Hall
Cate Blanchett—Disclaimer
Jodie Foster— True Detective: Night Country
Lily Gladstone—Under the Bridge
WINNER: Jessica Gunning—Baby Reindeer
Cristin Milioti—The Penguin
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
The Boys
Fallout
House of the Dragon
The Penguin
WINNER: Shogun
