News | Entertainment
22 Feb 2026 8:29
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Kathy Bates "didn't wanna go through" reconstructive surgery after a double mastectomy because she "enjoyed not having breasts"

    The 76-year-old actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 aged 64 and decided for a number of reasons that having a procedure to restore her bosom wouldn't have been right for her


    Appearing on the 'MeSsy' podcast, she told hosts Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler: "This is really weird, maybe - but I had really heavy breasts.

    "They were, like, 10 pounds when they removed them, and I kind of enjoy not having breasts."

    The 'American Horror Story' star's main reason for not wanted the surgery was because of her age and not being "in a relationship" at the time.

    She explained: "At the age I was, I thought, 'You know, I really don't wanna go through that'.

    "I just didn't wanna go through it. I wasn't in a relationship, I was older, and I didn't think that I would be in a relationship.

    "So I was kind of like, 'Why do I have to?' "

    Kathy - who was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer nine years before her breast cancer battle - pointed out that she can still change her figure when necessary for a role, such as in her 'Matlock' reboot where she sports a camisole-esque garment.

    She said: "They put little false-y cups in it, and they're so comfortable, and they give me a nice shape. And that's it."

    Back in 2018, Kathy opened up on her decision to avoid reconstructive surgery, insisting it would've involved her taking too much time away from her acting career, which she described as her "life force".

    She added to People at the time: "I'm having too much fun."

    However, she still wanted to use her experience and position to urge women to stay healthy and keep on top of things with regular check-ups.

    She advised: "Quit taking the damn selfies and worrying about what you look like. Instead, keep everything working and in good order."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     22 Feb: Margot Robbie makes movies "for the people who are going to buy tickets"
     22 Feb: Gisele Bundchen is living the "life she dreamed of"
     22 Feb: Tom Noonan has died aged 74
     22 Feb: Logan Paul would "love" to wrestle Bad Bunny
     22 Feb: Jax Taylor is "the healthiest he's ever been"
     21 Feb: Hilary Duff "just felt really ready to share" when she returned to the music business
     21 Feb: Zendaya has learned that "so much of life is loss"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Heartbreak for the Welsh rugby team in Cardiff...losing 26-23 to Scotland, despite leading for all but five minutes of the Six Nations encounter More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Two dogs have been impounded by Christchurch Council Animal Management officers and three people are in hospital after an attack in the North West More...



     Today's News

    General:
    The Women's Freeski Halfpipe Final at the Winter Olympics has been postponed 8:17

    Entertainment:
    Margot Robbie makes movies "for the people who are going to buy tickets" 8:17

    Soccer:
    Giancarlo Italiano has taken aim at Auckland FC 8:07

    International:
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was the Queen's rumoured favourite. Did she do too much to protect him? 7:57

    Soccer:
    Coach Giancarlo Italiano has resigned from his role at the Wellington Phoenix after a mortifying 5-nil A-League loss to Auckland FC in the capital 7:57

    Rugby:
    Heartbreak for the Welsh rugby team in Cardiff...losing 26-23 to Scotland, despite leading for all but five minutes of the Six Nations encounter 7:47

    Entertainment:
    Gisele Bundchen is living the "life she dreamed of" 7:47

    Rugby:
    The Blues have beaten the Force 42-32 in their Super Rugby contest in Perth, while the Chiefs have had a nail-biting 26-23 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin....with coach Jono Gibbes praising the Landers for their grit 7:37

    Living & Travel:
    On the frontlines of Australia's fight against vaccine hesitancy 7:37

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps' opening match in the Super 8s section of cricket's T20 World Cup has been abandoned without a ball being bowled 7:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd