Kathy Bates on Harry's Law Season 2, Her Emmy Nomination, and Playing a Woman Who Says What We All Wish We Could

Kathy Bates said it plainly: "I don't even like to think about the prospect of having to start all over — and I think that's one of the reasons why I'…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

Oscar winner Kathy Bates stars on NBC's drama Harry's Law as Harriet "Harry" Korn, a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer who is fired from her cushy job and forced to search for a fresh start. The show airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton spoke with Bates as Season 2 got underway.

Congrats — you're back for another season. It shows that David has done something right. Would you agree?

I hope so. I think we have a wonderful audience base that watched us last year and I'm thrilled to be back.

You've built a comfortable life for yourself and you've done so well in your career — what would you do if you had to start all over again at your age?

Oh my Lord. I don't know. I don't even like to think about the prospect of having to do that, and I think that's one of the reasons why I'm so grateful to have this job. I know a lot of people my age are having to start over and I don't know what I would begin to do. I think I would probably try to get a job involving animals, something more quiet and less public.

Has the Emmy nomination boosted the spirits of the Harry's Law team?

Absolutely. It was a real surprise and I love the fact that Paul McCrane was also nominated. And I realize that means that people aren't just watching the show to see me — they're seeing other people in the show as well, and that's a real excitement. Even though we just got the 12 episodes, I'm hoping that this year they'll give us a chance to do a back nine and stick around for a while.

From your past roles, what helped you to prepare for this show?

Nothing helped me prepare — and I don't mean to complain. But it is quite a workout physically, mentally, and emotionally to be ready to work every day at 7, 7:30 in the morning. I'm not a morning person at all. And learning that amount of dialogue and making it really real and natural and of the character — it was a steep learning curve last year. But I'm really enjoying it this year. I feel like I've got the momentum under my belt and I really enjoy going into work every day.

Are you enjoying this role on Harry's Law?

Absolutely. I'm very happy to have a job every day and it's what I've come to love to do. I enjoy acting — I've always enjoyed it — and I'm really enjoying working on this particular character and the challenge of putting in the hours that we do for television. It's been difficult but a pleasure. I like getting up in the morning and going to work. I can't believe I'd say that, but I do.

What do you find impressive or surprising about Harry?

I think all of us have been in situations where we've had a confrontation with someone and we walk away, and then maybe a few minutes later — or even a day later — we think, "Oh, I wish I had said that. I wish I had been clever enough to say exactly this to that person." And I think that's one of the things Harry has: that ability we all wish we had to say, in the moment, eloquently and forcefully, exactly what's on our mind and what makes the best argument. It's fun to play someone with that almost superhuman ability to express themselves. And I love playing a character who's blunt, who's irritable, who doesn't get along with everybody, who doesn't make any secret of her feelings — and yet at the same time she's complex. Things are revealed in time. I enjoy playing that complex character.

Any interest in directing on Harry's Law this season?

Not this season certainly. I have been thinking about it a little bit. Paul McCrane, who has come back to the show this season, has directed one and did a beautiful job, and it's made me think about it. But it would have to be an episode where the previous episode I was lighter, so I could prep.

What is the drawback?

I did a film for Lifetime called Ambulance Girl that I both acted in and directed, so that isn't so much the problem — it's the time to really prep the show, and that would require being in an episode less than I normally am.

Do you miss Malcolm and Jenna?

I really miss Brittany and Aml. I was very close to Aml especially last year and I miss very much having him on the show. I wish he was still there. With Karen's character, Harry is becoming a bit of a mentor — at first she's very blunt with Cassie and doesn't treat her very well, but in the later episodes I'm discovering she's beginning to have a mentor relationship with her, which is something Harry detests doing but is beginning to embrace more in her old age. But I sure do miss Aml and Brittany and I'm hoping they'll be back at some point.

Do you know Malcolm's current status?

Malcolm is said to be off studying at school.

There is chemistry between Harry and Tommy Jefferson. Will there be any romance between the two?

There is definitely a chemistry between the two, but I think it has to do with something a bit more basic — of all the people in the office, he's the one that understands her dilemma with getting older and how she looks at life. He's the only one that can really commiserate. But Tommy has demonstrated on more than one occasion that he has a thing for the younger ladies. So I doubt they would have a romantic fling. I think he goes more for the younger ones.

Will Harry have a love interest this season?

I don't know whether Harry would have a romantic interest. I think it would have to be somebody who would put up with how prickly she is, certainly.

What is your biggest challenge on the show?

Learning lines every day and every weekend. It takes up a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of focus. Just making peace with that and realizing that it comes along with the job and that I have to get the work done and not complain about it — that's been my biggest challenge. And not just learning the lines, but absorbing them and digesting them so that the lines disappear and Harry takes their place.

Will there be any surprising reveals about Harry this season?

Well, there are a couple of things that are revealed about her that I don't want to reveal now. It's always a surprise to me. David is very much the creator of the show and I have little to no input about what happens to Harry — although we do have some discussion at times if there's a question I have about where she's going in a particular scene. But he's very much in the driver's seat, so I'm always finding out along with everybody else what's actually going on with Harry.

Initially you were portrayed as a gun-toting attorney. Will you get the chance to use the gun this season?

I haven't used the gun this year but I'm hoping there will be an opportunity.

Would you consider Harry to be a role model for women?

I think she's a professional woman who's probably given a lot for her profession. I'm very curious about Harry's background — I know she's been married a couple of times, and you never know with David whether a prodigal child will show up at some point. I don't know that she's necessarily a role model for women. She certainly speaks her mind and tries to stand up for causes she believes are right. She speaks eloquently in the courtroom and she's a smart woman. She's not particularly affectionate, I don't think — she's got a heart of gold underneath all of that, but she's pretty blunt and pretty straightforward. I guess I think of her as a strong woman who has made her way in a world that is very difficult for women, which is the law.

What are some of your style secrets to looking great at your age?

I have a lot of help on the show. We have a wonderful costumer, Lisa Eisler, and she's worked a lot — especially this last year — with Marina Rinaldi. They have beautiful suits for women and that's what I've been chosen to wear this year for Harry. And I have wonderful makeup and hair people. My makeup artist, Jori Jenae Murray, is very conscious about skin care. At the end of every day she cleans all the makeup off and gives me a mini-facial and gives me products to use at home to keep my face soft and supple, because it gets a lot of wear and tear on the set.

Do you have any issues with aging or getting older?

Yes, I do think about aging certainly as I get older. I'm happy that the show requires me to walk a lot — it forces me to get a lot of exercise whether I want to or not, so that's a good thing. There are things that I can't do as well as I used to. But being a cancer survivor, I'm just really glad to be here. I guess that's the bottom line.

Rosie O'Donnell said she gets mistaken for you. Do you experience the same?

No. I don't get mistaken for her, but I know she's told me that on occasion — I think especially when we were younger. I think I look a bit older now since I've let my gray hair go.

If you have a particular issue with your character, is it easy for you to discuss it with David E. Kelley?

Yes. I think there are times when I think maybe she wouldn't be quite as loveable. And if I have problems like that I usually go to David and talk to him about it and see if we can make some kind of an adjustment. I try to respect his wishes as the writer and the creator of the show, and sometimes there are directions he is going in that I don't particularly know why until it's been written about in the next episode.

Has making this show changed in any way your personal perception of lawyers or the legal profession?

Well, it certainly has been a wonderful pretend for me. My mother — God rest her, born in 1907 — wanted to be a lawyer, and I think there were so very few choices available to her when she was coming along. When I got the script for Harry's Law I thought about my mother and I thought, "Well, this is I guess as close as she'll get." And it's a bit of a nostalgic trip for me at times, imagining what kind of lawyer she would've been — because she was awfully smart and blunt herself. So I feel like she's the Harry Korn in my life.

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