Kathy Bates clarifies retirement comments about new “Matlock” series on Emmys red carpet: 'I had one foot out the door'

The Oscar-winner had previously said Matlock would be her last role.

Don't count Kathy Bates out quite just yet.

The Oscar-winning actress set brows a-furrowed when she said that Matlock, her new series on CBS based on the classic serial, would be her "last dance." On the red carpet of the 2024 Emmy Awards, Bates clarified that her new role is so good she'd gladly play it for years to come.

"What I meant was, I had one foot out the door until I read the script for Matlock," Bates told Entertainment Weekly and PEOPLE during the awards pre-show. "And then I read Matlock and I said 'Ooooooookay, close the door. We're gonna do some more.' I want it to run for years. It's that great."

Bates had previously stated that Matlock would be her "last dance," saying that she had planned to retire after a movie shoot went south.

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"It becomes my life,” she said of her dedication to her characters and the grind to get projects off the ground. "Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent. Because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.”

A rep for Bates kind of denied that Bates was ready to hang it up, reiterating that she hoped Matlock would run for "many many years." Still, Matlock could still be her last role, even if it runs for a decade. Anything to keep Kathy Bates on our screens. And for what it's worth, Bates thinks the show has the legs, calling it "like nothing I've ever experienced."

Related: Is Kathy Bates retiring from acting? Here's what to know

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"It's been a long time since I did network television, and the hallmark of this experience for me is the passion, the joy, the level of the craft that [showrunner] Jennie [Snyder Urma] brings to each script, the intricacy, the cleverness, and the vibe on set," Bates told EW. "Everybody's excited, and you can just feel it."

Matlock debuts on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on Sept. 22.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.