The surprising reason Matlock star Kathy Bates is banned from Instagram

Star Kathy Bates is universally praised for her exceptional range and ability to cross over from theatre to film and back again. Back in the spotlight for her recent SAG best actress win, the Misery star revealed she can be just as insecure as the rest of us, so her family has banned her from using social media.

Bates shared that her niece Linda has to keep her far away from Instagram in case she reads a bad review of her work. The 76-year-old star doesn’t have children of her own but is incredibly close to her niece, having worked together for over 30 years.

Though Bates has won numerous awards over the years, she told E! News she can’t join Instagram as she obsesses over negative commentary.

“I’m not allowed to be on Instagram because my niece Linda says I’ll read five million great ones and one bad one, and I’ll fixate on the bad,” she said.

The character actress originally found acclaim on stage but it was her star-making performance as an obsessive fan in the horror movie, Misery that brought her to superstardom.

Though she continued to find success in mainstream films such as Fried Green Tomatoes, The Blind Side and About Schmidt, Bates recently made her mark in television, with critically acclaimed appearances in the American Horror Story series and the new reboot of Matlock.

Despite her success, Bates recently announced her retirement from acting, marking the end of a remarkable five-decade career in Hollywood.

She made the announcement during a recent interview with the New York Times, confirming that her role in the upcoming Matlock reboot will be her last.

“This is my last dance,” she told the publication.

Bates admitted that she had originally planned to retire from her career sooner, but she chose to extend her time in the spotlight when she was presented with the opportunity to star in the Matlock remake.

“Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it,” she said of her work on the series.

“And it’s exhausting.”

Bates went on to share how her career has become all-consuming, noting her desire to reclaim some balance and rediscover aspects of her personal life.

“It becomes my life,” she said.

“Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent. Because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.”

– with BANG