Kathy Bates won an Oscar in 1991 for her magnificent performance in the Stephen King thriller "Misery" – but it wasn't until recently that she realized she'd thanked her mother in her acceptance speech.In an interview with "CBS Sunday Morning," Bates told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that her parents had sacrificed a lot for her to study to become an actress.
But she also noted that – despite receiving a Tony Award nomination for "'Night, Mother," and then an Academy Award – her mother's reaction to her success was less than charitable. "When I won the Oscar for 'Misery,' she said, 'I don't know what all the excitement about.You didn't discover the cure for cancer,'" she told "Sunday Morning." Bates said that she had neglected to mention her mother in her acceptance speech, suggesting that was possibly the reason for the slight.
"I forgot to thank her that night," Bates said."You know, you did thank her at the end of your speech," Mankiewicz said.
"You thanked her." "No, I did not.I did not," Bates replied.
"You go back and look at it.I didn't."It was then that Mankiewicz played back for Bates a recording of her acceptance speech, at the 63rd Academy Awards ceremony from March 25, 1991.Watching the recording, Bates froze, then stared at Mankiewicz in disbelief.
Her hands came up to her mouth as she heard herself say: "I would like to thank my family, my friends, my mom at home, and my dad, who I hope is watching somewhere.""Thank you! Why did I think I didn't thank her?" said Bates after watching the video."Why does that mean so much to you?" asked Mankiewicz.
"'Cause she should have had my life," Bates said."When she died, I remember I said, 'Come into me.' I wanted her spirit to come into me, even though we had so many difficulties.
I wanted her spirit to come into me and enjoy everything I was enjoying, because of what she'd given up."Wow! Thank you so much for that," she added.
In addition to winning a...