Kathy Bates calls 'The Waterboy' role a career surprise after early doubts

Kathy Bates has revealed she nearly turned down The Waterboy.

The 78-year-old Oscar winner admitted that she had no idea who she was working with and even threw the script straight in the bin after a first read.

Kathy, who eventually played the fiercely protective Mama Boucher in the 1998 sports comedy alongside Adam Sandler, said she only got through around 12 pages before deciding the football-themed film simply wasn’t for her.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Matlock actress confessed she found the script “ridiculous” and quickly binned it, assuming it was just another forgettable project. 

But the story didn’t end there as her niece, who works with her, rescued the script from the rubbish and urged her to take a second look.

Her niece was stunned Kathy didn’t recognise Adam, pointing out his growing fame from his Saturday Night Live hit The Chanukah Song, which had already made him a rising comedy star in the US.

After reconsidering, Misery star agreed to take the role “for Linda” and says she ended up having one of the most enjoyable experiences of her entire career.

She described Adam as “brilliant” and a “genius”, adding that filming The Waterboy was packed with fun, chaos and improvisation as he was just breaking through in Hollywood.

Kathy, who now stars in TV drama Matlock, also opened up about how grateful she is to still be working, admitting the industry has become increasingly tough for older actors and many of her colleagues are struggling to land roles.

RELATED: Joan Cusack teases emotional new side to Jessie in 'Toy Story 5'