Kathy Bates hopes to keep working for "several years"

Explaining she wants the programme to continue for "several years", Kathy added to Variety: "I can't believe I'm saying that about doing episodic TV, but this has been so much of a challenge and a delight.

"Matty is certainly my magic carpet right now, and I want her to go sailing on for quite a long time."

The 'Misery' actress admitted her friends can't see her stopping working.

She added: "My friends say I'll probably be like Molière and die in my chair on the stage, because it really is a life force for me."

Despite her advancing years, Kathy feels she is in good shape after losing a lot of weight.

she said: "It's helped me tremendously that, over the last six or seven years, I've lost 100 pounds. I don't think I've been this slim since I was in college."

Admitting she was at her heaviest in 2011's 'Harry's Law', she added: "I had to sit down every moment that I could. It was hard for me to walk. I'm ashamed I let myself get so out of shape, but now I have a tremendous amount of energy."

The veteran actress had dec lared 'Matlock' to be her "last dance" earlier this week.

She told The New York Times newspaper: "Everything I've prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it.

"And it's exhausting.

"This is my last dance."