The director thought his actress would be dismissed because of the film’s genre.
Bettmann Archive
Kathy Batesgave a career-defining performance inMisery and won anOscarfor it.
But both Bates and her director,Rob Reiner,were never sure that would be the outcome.
Kathy Bates.Credit:Bettmann Archive
Reiner always loved his leading lady’s performance.
Indeed, to date,Miseryis the only Stephen King adaptation to be honored with an Oscar.
“You said because its a horror movie and not likely.”
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in ‘Misery’.Castle Rock/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
“Because you deserved it,” responded Reiner.
“It’s an amazing performance.”
“I was horrified,” Bates recalled.
Rob Reiner and Kathy Bates at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival.Jesse Grant/Getty
I was out at the very end of a branch, and I could just hear the saw.
I was like, ‘This is the end of my career.'"
For his part, Reiner never thought so.
Kathy Bates and James Caan in ‘Misery’.Snap/Shutterstock
“She was like, ‘What do you mean?’
Im cutting her off.
Im like, ‘No, no you could do this, I know you could do it.'”
Rob Reiner and Kathy Bates at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival.Jesse Grant/Getty
“And she went, ‘Really?'”
Snap/Shutterstock
Reiner was only too happy to give her the green light.
From there, Reiner’s greatest concern was making sure Bates took care of herself through the filming process.
“Kathy is such a dedicated actress,” he reflected.
“I get kind of manic, and I can get kind of down,” she said.
“Do you know how sometimes how you’re free to get obsessed with someone very talented?”
Bates wasn’t the only one to sense this connection.
Miserywas presented at the TCM Classic Film Festival in celebration of its 35th anniversary.
