Kathy Bates Stuns in Sharp Black Ensemble After Confirming Ozempic Use for Body Transformation

Jan 15, 2026 by apost team

Kathy Bates has never been shy about telling the full story behind her weight loss, and she continues to push back against the idea that it was quick or effortless. Born in 1948, the “Matlock” star says the transformation people see today came from years of commitment, difficult choices, and a deep concern for her health, not just a medication headline.

Bates, who has Type II diabetes, has been clear that while Ozempic played a role, it was only a small part of a much longer process. She previously shared that she lost about 20 pounds with Ozempic and the remaining 80 pounds through sustained diet and lifestyle changes. In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Bates emphasized how frustrating it has been to see her work reduced to a single factor.

“There’s been a lot of talk that I just was able to do this because of Ozempic,” she said. “But I have to impress upon people out there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic.” In the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards, the seasoned actress recounted to the publication that when she was trying on dresses, she was “in tears" because "everything I came out in just looked exquisite.”

Bates explained that her motivation was deeply personal. She admitted she once ate poorly due to low self-esteem, but everything shifted when she saw how diabetes devastated her family. The diagnosis forced her to confront patterns she could no longer ignore. In a conversation with Variety, she again addressed critics who claim medication did all the heavy lifting. She said, “It took me years to do this,” noting that diabetes runs through her family: “When they said ‘diabetes,’ I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight.”

That long and private effort was fully visible on the night of Jan. 4, 2026, when Bates stepped out at the 2026 Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California. The veteran actress confidently showed off her slimmer figure while attending the ceremony as a nominee for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work on “Matlock.” Though she ultimately lost the award to “Pluribus” star Rhea Seehorn, Bates still managed to command attention throughout the evening.

In detail, she arrived wearing a sharp black blazer paired with tailored matching pants, proving once again that her style is as polished as her performances. She completed the look with black satin shoes accented by rhinestone buckles, a subtle detail that added just enough sparkle. Her signature gray hair was styled into a sleek updo, and her makeup leaned classic, featuring bold red lipstick and softly defined eyes with black eyeliner.

Even without taking home the trophy, Bates made a memorable impression during the broadcast. She gamely participated in one of host Chelsea Handler’s comedic segments, which mocked a scene featuring Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.” The moment highlighted Bates’ willingness to laugh at herself and lean into the night's fun, a quality fans have long admired. 

Handler joked with the star-studded audience: “I heard that he didn’t want a butt double for those spankings in Marty Supreme, so to make things interesting for this evening, someone in this room has a ping pong paddle under their seat. So everyone look and whoever has it gets to spank Timothée at the afterparty tonight.” Bates, who held a paddle, licked it and mouthed to the camera: “That’s so gross. That’s so gross.” She then added to the crowd: “I can’t believe I did that!”

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