Kathy Bates credits Ryan Murphy for rejuvenating her career after casting her in American Horror Story.

The Matlock star,76, discussed why she believed Murphy,59, “rejuvenated my career” when she joined the cast of the popular FX anthology series, which he co-created with Brad Falchuk, following the cancellation of her legal comedy-drama show, Harry’s Law, in 2012.

“Before he gave me the opportunity to do the show, I had breast cancer, and Harry’s Law was cancelled rather unpleasantly,” she told presenter Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “When that summer happened, it was horrifying,” she said. I felt embarrassed. I felt like I let my cast down, and I’d never had an experience like that before.”

“Then came breast cancer, a condition that runs in my family, so I wasn’t surprised,” she told me. “But it was more painful than I expected, and I really felt like this is the end of my career,” she told me.

Bates previously starred in season 3 of American Horror Story as Delphine LaLaurie. She appeared in the next three seasons until making her final appearance in season 8, playing Miriam Mead, Miriam Mead 2.0, and Delphine LaLaurie.

The Academy Award winner currently plays Madeline Matlock in the CBS revival of the legal drama Matlock, a spin-off of the original series, which aired from 1986 to 1995 and featured Andy Griffith.

She expressed her excitement about her new position. “My public relations representative advised me not to mention that it was the finest experience I’d ever had. But I can’t help it. “I can’t help it.”

In October, Bates told PEOPLE that she isn’t ready to leave the profession after making headlines for claiming the Matlock remake would be her “last dance” after a five-decade career.

“I think people got confused and thought I was going to retire,” she told me. “What I meant was, how can things get any better?” she explained to me. I’d want this to continue.”

The blockbuster series gave Bates fresh hope after a time of disillusionment with the restricted options available for women her age.

“I recall phoning my agents and saying, ‘I believe I might like to go into, if not retirement, semi-retirement. “If I can’t afford to keep my house, I’ll sell it and possibly relocate to New York,” she said at the time. Then this occurred. “I could not believe it.”