17 Celebrities Who Work Like A Charm After The Age Of 40

We can all witness the fact that maturing does not often occur simultaneously with personal development. Some of history's most prosperous people didn't have their careers "all worked out" until long into their teens, and even well into their 40s.
Vera Wang is a good illustration. The enormously popular designer is known for both her elaborate wedding gowns and her easily wearable ready-to-wear collections. She really grew up as a competitive figure skater before entering the magazine industry, despite the fact that her high skill level would lead some people to believe she has been a design prodigy her whole life. Scroll down to see these 17 celebrities whom you didn't know after they turned 40.

1. Octavia Spencer

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When Octavia Spencer took the Oscar-winning role of Minnie Jackson in The Help, she was 41 years old.

2. Samuel L. Jackson

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 Samuel L. Jackson landed a role in Jungle Fever when he was 43 and featured in Pulp Fiction when he was 46.

3. Betty White

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Betty White joined The Mary Tyler Moore Show's cast when she was 51 years old, and she was 53 when she won an Emmy for playing Sue Ann Nivens.

4. Dame Judi Dench

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Dame Judi Dench made her James Bond debut as M in GoldenEye at the age of 61.

5. Ang Lee

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When Ang Lee's box office sensation Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon debuted, he was 46 years o

6. Alan Rickman

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Alan Rickman, who portrayed Hans Gruber in Die Hard, was 42 years old.

7. Larry David

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Larry David co-created Seinfeld at the age of 42.

8. Martha Stewart

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When Martha Stewart's first book, Entertaining, was released, she was 41 years old.

9. Viola Davis

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Viola Davis' breakthrough performance in Doubt came at the age of 42.

10. Steve Carell

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Steve Carell, who appeared in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, was 43 at the time.

11. Kathryn Bigelow

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Kathryn Bigelow, who helmed The Hurt Locker, was 57 years old.

12. Ty Burrell

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Ty Burrell debuted as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family at the age of 42.

13. Leslie Jones

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Leslie Jones made her Saturday Night Live debut at the age of 47.

14. Jane Lynch

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Jane Lynch, who played Christy Cummings in Best in Show, was 43 years old at the time.

15. Sir Patrick Stewart

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At the age of 47, Sir Patrick Stewart was cast as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

16. Morgan Freema

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Morgan Freeman's breakthrough performance in Street Smart came when he was 50 years old.

17. Lucille Ball

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Two months before the first episode of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball turned 40.