Connie Britton
Connie Britton has seen her star rise over the last few decades. After appearing in several made-for-TV movies and guest-starring roles, she was cast as Tami Taylor on the hit series "Friday Night Lights" at age 40.
After that, her career went into full swing, with roles in "Nashville," "American Horror Story," and "Dirty John."
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CNN Lifestyle / The “Da 5 Bloods” star rose to fame after the age of 40.
Norm Lewis
Norm Lewis is another actor who did not become famous until his 40s. He had already racked up a long list of credits before landing the role of Inspector Javert in the Broadway production of "Les Miserables" in 2010 at the age of 48.
Since then, he has appeared in several movies and TV shows like "Scandal" and "Teddy & The Parasite." He is also an occasional panelist on CBS’s "What Would You Do."
Steve Carell
For many people, Steve Carell is the epitome of a Hollywood star who made it big later in life. After doing stand-up comedy for several years, Carell landed small roles on shows like "Saturday Night Live" before getting his breakout role as Michael Scott on the U.S. version of "The Office" at age 42.
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GTN / Steve Carell is one of the most popular stars who had no fame before his 40s.
His career has since skyrocketed with roles in movies such as "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Foxcatcher."
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart may be a household name now. But she did not become famous until her 40s. After working as an editor for several magazines and writing cookbooks, she started appearing on the "Today Show" at age 48.
Her career skyrocketed after that with appearances on other television shows and the launching of the Martha Stewart Living magazine in 1990. She has since become one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Christoph Waltz
At age 49, Christoph Waltz won an Oscar for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s "Inglourious Basterds." Prior to this, he had worked primarily in German television and films, although he had appeared in a few English-speaking films. His career has since been on the rise, with him making appearances in major Hollywood films such as "Spectre" and "Django Unchained."
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Elle / “Dead for a Dollar” star Christoph Waltz won Oscar at the age of 49!
Vera Wang
Vera Wang is another late bloomer to fame. After working as an editor for Vogue magazine, she started her own bridal design business at age 40. She was almost immediately successful, with celebrities like Mariah Carey wearing her designs.
She is now one of the world’s most famous fashion designers, having dressed countless celebrities and launching ready-to-wear collections every season. Her success story serves as an inspiration to all those who believe they have left it too late to make their mark on the world.
Today, there are plenty of Hollywood stars who have struggled for many years before becoming successful later in life. Disclaimer: This list just scratches the surface. Anyone can be a success no matter how old they are, and these stories prove that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. With hard work and dedication, you can make them come true.