Kathy Bates made Emmy history with her nomination for her role in CBS’s Matlock reboot.
The 76-year-old actress became the oldest performer ever nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. Her nomination broke the previous record held by Jessica Tandy, who was 75 when she received her nomination for Driving Miss Daisy in 1989.
Bates received the news while filming on set.
The emotional moment was captured on video, showing cast and crew members celebrating around her. Bates appeared visibly moved by the announcement, covering her face with her hands as colleagues applauded.
"I can’t believe it," she said in the footage. "This means everything to me."
The Matlock reboot premiered last fall on CBS. Bates plays Madeline Matlock, a lawyer who returns to work at a prestigious law firm after decades away from the profession.
The show reimagines the classic 1986 series that starred Andy Griffith.
Bates’s performance has drawn praise from critics and viewers. The series has been renewed for a second season, with production continuing through the summer.
This marks Bates’s fourth Emmy nomination overall. She previously won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for American Horror Story: Coven in 2014.
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air September 15 on ABC. Bates faces competition from several other nominees in the drama category, including previous winners and first-time nominees.
CBS executives expressed excitement about the nomination in a statement released Thursday morning.