Everyone knows that it's never too late to pursue their goals. However, when we reach middle age, we can feel like the window of opportunity to fulfill our dreams begins to close quickly. However, there are many people in the world who achieved their dreams or make it big much later in life. For example, look at famous people. Indeed, some renowned people become famous by birth. But overall, the more common success stories in Hollywood come from
stars who never give up: through hard work and persistence.
Jennifer Coolidge became famous at around 38, but it wasn't until 2023 that she gained her first Golden Globe for her incredible performance in "The White Lotus". And Judi Dench and Morgan Freeman seem to have been in every classic movie for decades, but Freeman wasn't famous until he was 52, and Dench until she was 60.
Here is a list of 11 stars who didn't know the meaning of "give up" and ended up winning the award and getting the recognition they always deserve. Check out their stories for inspiration and a reminder that it's never too late to hold success!
#1 Jennifer Coolidge
Source: AFP/EAST NEWS, AFP/EAST NEWS
Jennifer Coolidge made her name when she appeared in the movies "American Pie" and "Legally Blonde". But she never received an award for her work, and it wasn't until 2023 that she received her first Golden Globe for her outstanding performance in "The White Lotus".
#2 Morgan Freeman
Source: AP/East News
At the age of 27, Morgan Freeman started his career, and since then, he has been in a vast number of movies, series, and plays. However, it was not until the age of 50 that he received his first Oscar nomination. In the end, he received the honor in 2004 for his performance in "Million Dollar Baby" at the age of 67. He is an example that awards don't always come easily or quickly for the most talented actors out there.
#3 Judi Dench
Source: Invision / Invision / East News
Our endearing actress, Judi Dench got her start a bit late, in 1964 when she was 30 years old. She received her first Academy Award nomination in 1997 when she was 63 years old, and she won the award the following year for "Shakespeare in Love". She rose to fame in 1995 when she played M in the James Bond film "GoldenEye". She is currently 88 years old, but it doesn't appear like she intends to retire from acting anytime soon.
#4 F. Murray Abraham
Source: AFP/EAST NEWS, AFP/EAST NEWS
F. Murray Abraham earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for his performance in "Amadeus" (1984). He didn't win any more significant prizes, although having a very impressive career, following that. It looks like his career was revived in 2022 when he played one of the lead roles in "The White Lotus" series.
#5 Jamie Lee Curtis
Source: EAST NEWS, Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection/East News
Curtis is a very recognizable face in Hollywood as she has starred in countless projects, including the "Halloween" series, "A Fish Called Wanda", and "Freaky Friday". She had won two Golden Globes and a BAFTA. But after years of hard work, she just received her first Academy Award nomination for her performance in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" at the age of 63.
#6 Christopher Plummer
Source: AFP / EAST NEWS
Plummer began his career in 1958 and since then, he has taken part in a large number of motion pictures and plays. Although he won two Tony Awards and two Emmy Awards, it was not until the age of 81, he was nominated for an Academy Award (but did not win). In 2012, he won his first Oscar for his work in the film "Beginners". At the age of 88, he received another nomination, but he did not win.
#7 Viola Davis
Source: AFP / EAST NEWS
Viola Davis has an impressive resume as she has acted in a number of highly acclaimed films and television shows. However, she didn't receive her first Academy Award nomination until the age of 44 for the film "Doubt". Eight years later, for her part in the film "Fences", she was awarded the golden trophy. She also received a lot of recognition for playing the lead character in the television series "How to Get Away With Murder".
#8 Betty White
Source: Invision / Invision / East News
Betty White began her television career in 1949. In 1951, she was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the "Life With Elizabeth" series. However, she rose to fame by appearing on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1973, when she was 51 years old. And in 1985, her performance in "The Golden Girls" cemented her as one of the top comedic actresses of all time.
#9 Jane Lynch
Source: AP/Everett Collection / East News
Lynch began her acting career in 1988 and has starred in a number of films and television shows. But her big break came when she was cast as Sue Sylvester in "Glee" in 2009 at the age of 49, for which received an Emmy Award. Soon after that, she began hosting the show "Hollywood Game Night", for which she also won two more Emmy Awards. Lynch's popularity and success came a little later, but it seems that a sweet success.
#10 Al Pacino
Source: Invision / Invision / East News
Since his debut in 1969, Pacino has acted in iconic films that left his mark on the film industry with movies like "The Godfather", "Dog Day Afternoon", and "Scarface". While he was nominated 6 times for an Academy Award from 1973 to 1991, he finally received the golden trophy in 1993 for "Scent of a Woman". His talent was undeniably great, yet his Academy Awards don't accurately reflect his successful career.
#11 Lucille Ball
Source: East News
Ball is recognized as one of the most talented and accomplished comedy actors of all time. After participating in many movies until she was 40, she produced and starred in the historic "I Love Lucy". Despite the fact that the program was a huge hit, she only received one Emmy Award for her role. Later, in 1979 and 1987, she received the Cecil B. DeMille award and a Lifetime Achievement award in comedy.