The Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates made a flawless impression of the unsinkable Molly Brown in the 1998 film Titanic.

The movie received an unexpected 14 Academy award nominations. It still remains the highest number in Hollywood history. Director James Cameron wanted to ensure the film was depicted close to the real 1912 ship. So he drew inspiration from real passengers on the ship. 

Bates's role of Margeret was among the handful of characters based on the real passengers of the Titanic. Bates has since appeared in multiple award-winning projects, but her role of Margeret remains her best till now. 

What Is 'Titanic' Star Kathy Bates Doing Now?

As of 2022, Bates joined the cast of the upcoming Netflix movie directed by Richard LaGravenese. Variety reported her co-stars to include Liza Koshy, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, and Joey King.  

Although Bates' upcoming film is untitled, reportedly, the script focuses on complicated wires of love, sex, and identity. 

Kathy Bates as Margaret in the film 'Titanic'.

Kathy Bates as Margaret in the 1998 film 'Titanic.' (Photo: Holly/Twitter)

Other than Titanic, fans recall Bates as Miss Sue of Sandra Bullock starring The Blind Side, Jo Bennett of The Office, and her multiple characters in American Horror Story. 

She is also reported to star in the movie production of real-life Thelma Bates, mother of author John Kennedy Toole, titled Thelma. 

Kathy Bates Remembers Filming 'Titanic' Differently

Cameron did not expect his creation to be the classical heart of the industry. Bates concurred with Cameron saying she also did not expect Titanic to be a global sensation on ABC News in 1998. 

She said her experience was limited and concentrated on only some parts of the production. Unlike other co-stars, Bates did not have to stay for the entire production duration and go through the hardships of shooting on a ship. 

Bates shared she had to be on the ship for only three weeks of six-month production. She found the costumes worn by Margeret the toughest part of her shoot. "And so the toughest thing for me was shooting at night and wearing a corset," Bates jokingly confessed. 

Bates and her co-stars had a common liking for the depiction of Titanic, the ship.

She was blown away by the majestic figure re-created for the movie's sake. "When you go down to the set and it was, they built the Titanic at the side of the ocean. When you see this ship sitting there on the side of the ocean, your jaw just drops open," she recalled.

Movie critics connoted Bates's portrayal of Margaret humanized the movie. She kept the flow and wheeled the story from behind. "She also brought a little light-heartedness to an otherwise pretty tragic movie; just like the actual Molly Brown did with the real-life tragedy of the Titanic," Coming Soon wrote about Bate's portrayal. 

Hence, some also argued Bate's contribution was underappreciated compared to the fame and accolades received by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.