Women Over 70 Don’t Lead Dramas—Unless They’re Named Matlock

Kathy Bates’ take on Matlock isn’t just a bold casting decision—it’s a radical act of age representation that network television has long avoided.

Hollywood doesn’t like aging. Especially not when it comes to leading women. That’s why the CBS reboot of Matlock felt revolutionary—not because it remakes a courtroom classic, but because it places a 75-year-old woman at the center of it.

In an industry where actresses over 60 are often sidelined to grandmother roles or quietly written off, Kathy Bates has flipped the script—literally.

“Matty Matlock is not just wise,” showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman explains. “She’s underestimated. And that’s her biggest weapon.”

The character is not “sweet.” She’s cunning, sarcastic, and sometimes ruthless. And viewers are responding. According to CBS, Matlock has consistently ranked among the network’s top five new shows in the 18–49 demographic—proving audiences are hungry for something different.

Critics have noted that Bates brings not only gravitas but a thrilling unpredictability to every scene. Whether grilling a suspect or sparring with Beau Bridges’ character, she’s rewriting what it means to “carry” a network drama.

But there’s something deeper happening: Matlock is gently redefining age. This isn’t about second chances or aging gracefully. It’s about power late in life, and it’s refreshing to see a network let that story unfold—one sharp line of questioning at a time.