Bates thrives on eccentric characters

Oscar winner Kathy Bates says she loves playing eccentric characters like her latest role as ageing hippy Roberta Hertzel in new movie About Schmidt.

The drama, which opens in Ireland tomorrow, is the tale of pensioner Warren Schmidt (played by Jack Nicholson) – a newly retired insurance man who sets about trying to stop his daughter’s forthcoming marriage to a dim-witted waterbed salesman named Randall.