Kathy Bates likes 'not having breasts' after her cancer battle: 'They were like 10 pounds'
Kathy Bates is opening up about her "strange" enjoyment of "not having breasts" after two battles with cancer.
The "Matlock" reboot star opened up to "MeSsy" podcast hosts Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler on Tuesday about her health journey and undergoing a double mastectomy over a decade ago.
“This is really weird maybe, but I had really heavy breasts," Bates told the co-hosts. "They were like 10 pounds when they removed them. Really big, big breasts and I kind of enjoy not having breasts. It's strange."
Bates added that she "decided not to have reconstruction because, at the age I was, I thought, I really don't wanna go through that. I just didn't wanna go through it."
"You know, I wasn't in a relationship, I was older and I didn't think I would be in a relationship, and it's always kind of like, why do I have to?" she continued.
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Kathy Bates announces retirementafter 'Matlock' reboot: 'It's exhausting'
The costume team on "Matlock" used material like Spanx to create a camisole for her character on the CBS legal drama, she said. Bates noted that the costuming team added "false-y cups" that are "so comfortable and they give me a nice shape," telling the co-hosts, "I feel so good when I go out like that."
In 2012, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after previously being diagnosed with ovarian cancer nine years prior in 2003.
"My aunt had died from it, my mother had it, my niece had it," Bates told People in 2018 about her breast cancer diagnosis.
Kathy Bates recently announced retirement after 'Matlock' before reversing decision
In recent months, Bates has opened up about more than just her health, soft-launching her own retirement this fall before surprising fans by reversing her decision.
Bates, 76, told The New York Times in an interview published in September that she was already in the retirement mood after an unnamed movie shoot went left and, at one point, brought her home alone to tears.
"This is my last dance," she told the outlet. Later, she peddled back those comments in a USA TODAY interview.
Kathy Bates talks that shock twistin new 'Matlock'; CBS series renewed for Season 2
"I was so shocked," Bates says, laughing, about fans' dismay at the retirement talk that led to an official clarification. Bates is not planning to step down anytime soon. "At the time, I was feeling the difficulties of doing the show and living up to people's expectations," she told USA TODAY last month. "It was a truthful look into how I was feeling that night. But I wouldn't want to retire from this. This show has been such an unexpected gift, especially at my age."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman