At 72 years old, actress Kathy Bates has become a familiar face on both the big and small screens. Known for her fierce and captivating performances, Bates has played a wide range of characters throughout her career. But behind her success lies an ongoing battle with a chronic health condition that has forced her to make significant changes in her life.
Bates began her acting journey in 1970, heading to New York in pursuit of her dreams. Reflecting on her early years, she acknowledges that she was never the ingénue type. “I was never an ingenue. I’ve always just been a character actor,” Bates reveals. It was a challenge for her to break into the industry due to societal beauty standards. However, she refused to let that deter her.
Her breakthrough on Broadway came in 1980 when she portrayed the character Stella May in “Come Back To The Five And Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” Although she missed out on film adaptations of her stage roles a few times, everything changed when she turned 42. Her role as a psychotic fan in “Misery” catapulted her to stardom, earning her a well-deserved Best Actress Academy Award.
Bates has always embraced the range of roles she has received throughout her career. In her own words, “You’re either young and glamorous and you’re going to get the lead, or it’s the opposite: you’re not attractive enough. So you’re playing the friend or the killer or the lesbian or the doctor or whatever.” She recognizes the power that comes with playing complex characters, even if they don’t fit societal ideals of femininity.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Bates has faced personal health challenges. She battled ovarian cancer in 2003 and breast cancer in 2012. Following her breast cancer surgery, she revealed her diagnosis of lymphedema, becoming an advocate for awareness and education about the condition.
Lymphedema causes swelling in the arms and other parts of the body, and it has had a significant impact on Bates’ daily life. She has lost 80 pounds over the years and wears compression sleeves to reduce swelling. Despite the difficulties, Bates remains determined to live life to the fullest. “Going out in public wearing a compression garment… can sometimes be more painful than the disease itself,” she acknowledges. However, she urges others with the condition not to let it define them or hinder their lives.
Bates emphasizes the importance of research and funding for lymphedema, actively supporting organizations that raise awareness and work towards a better understanding of the condition. Despite her ongoing health journey, Bates continues to pursue roles she enjoys and advocate for the causes close to her heart.
At the age of 72, Kathy Bates exemplifies resilience and determination. She not only lives with her condition but thrives in spite of it. Her inspiring story serves as a reminder that we should never let anything hold us back from pursuing our passions and living our lives to the fullest.
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