It is true that getting older doesn’t decrease productivity or the desire to succeed. Famous late bloomers in the Entertainment industry are ideal examples of this.
Talent is nothing without the invested time honing it. It may take years and years for actors to practice their acting skills and draw on their own experience. And sometimes the process to become popular lasts longer than it’s expected.
For example, despite having been acting for years, it wasn’t until his role in Pulp Fiction at age 45 that Samuel L. Jackson became a household name. J.K. Rowling is worth introducing. She was a struggling single mother when she wrote the first Harry Potter book and when she was in her mid-30s, she became a literary sensation.
We’ve made a list of famous late bloomers who inspire us to never give up their dreams and teach us their lessons and showcase the struggles they encountered.
#1. Alan Rickman
Source: wikipedia
The talented actor was respected and recognized until he was 42 years old thanks to his portrayal of Hans Gruber in 1988’s Die Hard. Many might not know he wasn’t well-known on screen for the many roles he played.
#2. Morgan Freeman
Source: Wikimedia
After years of acting on stage, Freeman became a film star at age 50 with his role in Driving Miss Daisy, which garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He had been toiling as an actor for years with varying degrees of success.
#3. Susan Boyle
Source: Wikimedia
Susan Boyle earned her reputation at the age of 47. At that time she performed on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and got much attention. Despite being a professionally educated vocalist, she failed to produce recordings and submit them to record labels and talent events. However, before the competition, she recorded 7 albums.
#4. Liam Neeson
Source: Flickr
Despite being acclaimed by critics, Liam Neeson didn’t become famous. He just rose to fame after starring in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List in 1993. From then, he appeared in thrillers like Taken and The Grey and big-budget movies like Star Wars: Episode I and Batman Begins.
#5. Steve Carell
Source: Flickr
Because of comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Carell was a well-known face. However, the NBC broadcast of The Office in the US finally made Carell a household star. From there, he played the lead in several comedies and received nominated for a best actor Oscar for his work in the drama Foxcatcher in 2014.
#6. Harrison Ford
Source: Flickr
Many might not know that the legendary actor Harrison Ford struggled to make it in Hollywood. It wasn’t until he was 33 that he took on the lead role of Han Solo in George Lucas' Star Wars. He got this legendary role, while he was working as a carpenter in Francis Ford Coppola’s office.
#7. Melissa McCarthy
Source: Flickr
Melissa McCarthy got an Oscar nomination for her performance in Bridesmaids when she was 41. Before that, she had decades of lesser TV and movie parts but it seems that they are enough to make her famous.
#8. Jane Lynch
Source: Wikimedia
Thanks to her first significant role on the 2000 comedy Best in Show, she got the cheerleading coach position on Fox's Glee in 2009. But before that, she just worked hard in Chicago theaters for 15 years.
#9. Jeremy Renner
Source: Wikimedia
The actor had a variety of roles in primarily indie films but none of them made him famous. When he was 38, he starred in The Hurt Locker, which earned him an Oscar nod for best actor in 2010. Since then, he has played Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as in big blockbuster films like The Town.
#10. Amy Poehler
Source: Flickr
Amy Poehler started her acting career as a versatile comic actress. At age 30, she got cast as a regular on Saturday Night Live. It became a turning point in her career that allowed Amy to pursue her popularity in television and even take home a Golden Globe.
#11. Alexander Skarsgård
Source: wikipedia
At age 31, the Swedish Alexander Skarsgård rose to fame when he appeared in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill in 2008. After that, US production opportunities began to approach him. He has since worked in both TV and movies, and it doesn't seem like he will be slowing down.
Who else do you think we skipped? Let us know in the comments.