Hollywood – Academy Award winner Kathy Bates has been revisiting one of the most memorable performances of her career: Evelyn Couch in the 1991 classic Fried Green Tomatoes. More than three decades later, Bates says the role remains one of her most personally rewarding experiences on screen.
In a recent interview, Bates explained that stepping into Evelyn’s shoes was transformative not only for the character but for her as an actress. “Evelyn was a woman at a crossroads,” Bates noted. “She was frustrated, overlooked, and yearning for change. I think so many women saw themselves in her, and that’s why the film still resonates today.”
Directed by Jon Avnet and based on Fannie Flagg’s novel, the film tells the intertwined stories of friendship, resilience, and empowerment in the Deep South. Bates’ portrayal of Evelyn—a housewife who finds new confidence through the stories told by Ninny Threadgoode (played by Jessica Tandy)—was widely praised for its humor and emotional honesty.
Bates admitted that at the time, she didn’t anticipate the cultural impact the movie would have. “We were just making a good film, with a lot of heart,” she said. “But it struck a chord. People still come up to me and talk about the ‘Towanda!’ scene. It gave women permission to take up space, to assert themselves.”
The role of Evelyn came just one year after Bates won an Oscar for Misery (1990), and she has often pointed to Fried Green Tomatoes as a career milestone that allowed her to showcase a different range of emotions—softer, comedic, and deeply human.
As Bates reflects on her legacy, she considers Evelyn Couch a role that continues to follow her. “It’s humbling,” she said. “That film has never really gone away. It lives on with every new audience that discovers it. I’m proud to have been part of something so lasting.”
