Kathy Bates, 76, was ‘in tears’ when she fit into Armani gown for the Emmys after 100-pound weight loss

Kathy Bates revealed she was ‘in tears’ while getting dressed for the 2024 Emmys, which were held on September 15.

The 76-year-old actress said it was an emotional experience because she ‘was able to go’ to Giorgio Armani and find a dress that fit her for the first time ‘in quite a while.’

The Matlock star — who also clarified that she isn’t ready to step away from the industry yet after she implied she was ready to retire from her successful, decades-spanning career after her new CBS series runs its course — recalled a friend joining her for the fitting, in an interview with PEOPLE published on Friday. 

While she was trying on dresses during the fitting, she said both of them ‘were in tears because everything I came out in just looked exquisite.’ 

At the end of the fitting, she decided on a deep, royal purple gown with intricate, sparkly embroidery and beading. 

Kathy Bates, 76, revealed she was ‘in tears’ while getting dressed for the 2024 Emmys, which were held on September 15; (L) seen in September at Emmys, (R) seen in 2015

Bates said ‘the pictures on the red carpet were so different from any pictures I’d ever had taken on a red carpet.’

‘I just felt so relaxed and ready,’ the American Horror Story alum continued. 

‘I knew I felt great, and I looked great,’ she recalled. ‘We had a wonderful little skit with Antony [Starr] and Giancarlo [Esposito]. It was a lovely night.’

She added: ‘That evening was really special.’ 

During her interview, Bates also revealed that she was inspired to lose weight but most importantly, get healthy, when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 2017. 

‘It scared me straight,’ Bates admitted. 

She said that the first change she made was listening to her body, which she explained was advice from her niece. 

‘When we’re full, we experience an involuntary sigh,’ she said about what she learned and does now. ‘I just pushed the plate away.’ 

The actress said it was an emotional experience because she ‘was able to go’ to Giorgio Armani and find a dress that fit her for the first time ‘in quite a while’; pictured May 2 in Los Angeles

The Matlock star recalled a friend joining her for the fitting, in an interview with PEOPLE published on Friday. While she was trying on dresses during the fitting, she said both of them ‘were in tears because everything I came out in just looked exquisite’; pictured September 15 in Los Angeles

Bates said ‘the pictures on the red carpet were so different from any pictures I’d ever had taken…I just felt so relaxed and ready’; pictured September 15 in Los Angeles

As she finally addressed Ozempic rumors about how she dropped pounds, Bates said she lost most of the weight by tuning into her body and training herself to stop eating when she felt like she was full. 

Bates also explained that she paid more attention to the foods she was consuming. 

‘I used to eat terribly: burgers and Cokes and pizza,’ she told the outlet before adding that she also does not eat after 8 p.m. anymore. 

She said she was able to lose 80 pounds through diet and lifestyle changes, however, she crossed the 100-pound mark with the help of Ozempic. 

‘There’s been a lot of talk that I just was able to do this because of Ozempic,’ she said as she addressed the fan speculation for the first time.

‘But I have to impress upon people out there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic. It’s very hard to say you’ve had enough.’ 

She said she was able to lose 80 pounds through diet and lifestyle changes, however, she crossed the 100-pound mark with the help of Ozempic; pictured September 2016 in LA

As she continues with her hard work, she also explained what she is working on now. 

Bates said that since the first season of Matlock has wrapped, she is focusing on her next challenge — finding a workout routine that works for her. 

‘That’s going to be my next thing that I’m worried about because I won’t be on set running back and forth,’ she explained. ‘I have a treadmill here at the house, and I might try pilates. 

She added: ‘People always ask, “Don’t you want a trainer?” No, I really don’t. I don’t want anybody over my shoulder. It’s just very important to me to keep this going. I don’t want to slip.’ 

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