More than three decades after Fried Green Tomatoes became a beloved classic, actress Kathy Bates is finally opening up about her complicated feelings toward one of her most iconic roles. The Oscar-winning star, who played the timid yet transformative Evelyn Couch, recently admitted that she didn’t always feel proud of the 1991 film — but time and perspective have changed everything.
“At the time, I didn’t realize what that story meant to so many women,” Bates said in a reflective interview. “I saw Evelyn as this lost housewife trying to find her voice, but now I understand she represented an entire generation trying to reclaim their strength.”
When Fried Green Tomatoes premiered, audiences were drawn to its warmth, humor, and deep female friendships. However, Bates confessed she initially felt overshadowed by co-stars Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, whose storyline between Idgie and Ruth carried strong emotional — and for many fans, romantic — undertones.
“Back then, Hollywood didn’t often tell women’s stories with that kind of depth,” Bates recalled. “We were doing something quietly revolutionary without even realizing it.”
Over the years, Fried Green Tomatoes became a cultural touchstone for empowerment and female solidarity. Fans frequently approach Bates to share how Evelyn’s transformation — from insecure homemaker to confident, independent woman — inspired them to take control of their own lives.
“That’s when it finally clicked for me,” Bates said. “It wasn’t just a movie about small-town women. It was about liberation, friendship, and self-worth — things that never go out of style.”
Now, looking back with pride, Bates sees the film as one of her most meaningful projects. “It took me years to appreciate what Fried Green Tomatoes gave the world — and what it gave me,” she admitted. “It taught me that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it starts with a whisper — and a plate of fried green tomatoes.”
