The 76-year-old actor, who is known for her work in titles like Titanic, Misery, American Horror Story and The Office, was nominated at the Golden Globes in the category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama for her role in the CBS series Matlock.
Bates made this clear to viewers watching the show, but not because she went up on stage and read it out.
Instead, Bates showed off her speech when the winner of the award was revealed, and she learned she’d lost out to Sawai for her performance in Shōgun.
Cameras at the ceremony showed the reactions of the nominees as Sawai was announced as the winner, and while all five remaining actors broke into applause, Bates added a humorous – if a little awkward – flare to her reaction.
Fans have praised Bates’ reaction (CBS)
Just as the camera went to cut away from her, the actor could be seen tearing up a piece of paper – presumably her speech – and dropping it to the ground, all the while looking directly at the lens.
Viewers managed to catch Bates’ reaction and couldn’t help call attention to it online, with one person writing: “Kathy Bates ripping up her speech was peak legend energy!”
“Kathy Bates tearing up her acceptance speech after losing the Golden Globe? Classic! Love her spirit!,” another fan wrote on Twitter, as a third commented: “Kathy Bates ripping up her prepared awards speech on camera – so real.”
Kathy Bates was nominated for her role in Matlock (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Though Bates didn’t manage to secure the win for her role, she’s previously spoken about the impact Matlock has had on her life, especially as an actor in her mid-70s.
Speaking to CBS last year, she said: “All of the sudden, I got this script, and I thought, ‘Oh wow. I’ve got to do it.’
“That was also a big deal for me about being invisible. There’s so many women my age who really do feel invisible, and these years are difficult to put that despair at bay to get through everyday. I think if I wasn’t doing this show, I might feel the same way. But it’s all changed overnight.”
