Actresses Who Achieved Mainstream Fame After Turning 40

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We often hear about young stars in entertainment, but many successful Hollywood actors actually found fame later in life. These actresses spent years developing their skills through theater, smaller roles, and TV appearances before landing the parts that made them famous. Their journeys prove that hard work pays off and success can happen at any age. This list celebrates the careers of women who achieved widespread recognition after turning 40.

Allison Janney

Allison Janney became a household name at age 40 when she started playing C.J. Cregg on the hit TV show ‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006). This role earned her four Emmy Awards and made her a well-known actress. Although she had worked in films and theater before, it was her success on television that led to bigger movie roles. Later, she won an Academy Award for her performance in the 2017 film ‘I, Tonya’.

Ann Dowd

For years, she steadily worked as an actress in television and film, frequently taking on smaller roles like neighbors or nurses. Her career took off at age 56 with a chilling performance in the 2012 indie film ‘Compliance.’ This led to her iconic role as Aunt Lydia in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017–Present), earning her an Emmy Award in her sixties. Today, she’s widely recognized as one of the most talented and respected character actresses in the industry.

Bea Arthur

Before becoming a television star, she was well-known in New York theater. She first gained widespread recognition at age 50 with the 1972 sitcom ‘Maude,’ which began as a character on ‘All in the Family’ and then became a hit series of its own. Years later, in her early 60s, she found another surge of popularity starring in ‘The Golden Girls.’

Estelle Getty

Though she enjoyed a lengthy career on stage, it wasn’t until her 60s that she became a household name on television. At age 62, she landed the role of Sophia Petrillo on the beloved sitcom ‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992). Interestingly, she was only a year older than the actress who played her daughter, but she used makeup to convincingly portray the elderly character. Her excellent comedic skills and witty delivery throughout the show’s seven seasons won her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Jane Lynch

Though she often worked with Christopher Guest on his mockumentaries, she didn’t become a household name until later in life. At 49, she started playing Sue Sylvester on the TV show ‘Glee’ (2009–2015), a role that earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe. This made her well-known around the world and proved she could lead a major television series with her distinctive comedic style.

Judi Dench

For decades, she was a beloved actress on the British stage, but she didn’t become internationally famous for her film work until later in life. At 61, she landed the role of M in the 1995 James Bond film ‘GoldenEye,’ which introduced her to audiences around the world and changed her career as a film star. Just three years later, at 64, she won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘Shakespeare in Love’.

Kathy Bates

For many years, she built her career performing in theater and taking on small roles in television, often without receiving much recognition. Everything changed when she was 42 and landed the part of Annie Wilkes in the 1990 horror film ‘Misery.’ This performance earned her an Academy Award and instantly made her a highly requested actress. After that breakthrough, she consistently appeared in major productions like ‘Titanic’ (1997) and ‘American Horror Story’ (2011–Present).

Kathryn Hahn

For more than ten years, she was known as a dependable character actress in both TV comedies and popular movies. She began to gain leading roles in her early 40s, notably in the 2016 film ‘Bad Moms’ and the series ‘I Love Dick’ (2016–2017). Her career reached a high point at age 47 when she played Agatha Harkness in the Marvel series ‘WandaVision’ (2021). This role brought her significant praise from critics, a hit song, and numerous award nominations.

Leslie Jones

I’ve always admired performers who really put in the work, and this actress is a perfect example. She started out doing stand-up and spent years honing her craft before anyone really knew her name. Her big break finally came when she joined ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2014 – she was 47 at the time, which made her the oldest new cast member ever! That show really put her on the map, and soon she was landing some amazing movie roles, like starring in the 2016 ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot. It’s so inspiring to see someone achieve that kind of success after so much dedication.

Lucille Ball

For ten years, she was famous for starring in low-budget films, but her biggest break came when she was forty years old. In 1951, she and her husband, Desi Arnaz, began appearing in the hit sitcom ‘I Love Lucy,’ which ran until 1957. The show was a huge success, changing television with its innovative use of multiple cameras during filming. This career shift made her one of the most celebrated and impactful women in entertainment.

Margo Martindale

I remember when she was just a working actress, consistently appearing on stage and in smaller films for years, but never quite getting the recognition she deserved. Everything changed when she was 59 and landed the role of Mags Bennett on ‘Justified.’ That performance was incredible, and she finally won an Emmy! It really opened doors for her, leading to regular roles in shows like ‘The Americans.’ Now, she’s become a familiar face, and everyone talks about how amazing she is at playing both dramatic and comedic parts. It’s been fantastic to watch her career blossom.

Melissa McCarthy

Though she’d worked on the TV show ‘Gilmore Girls’ for several years, the 2011 comedy ‘Bridesmaids’ launched her to international fame. She was 41 when she earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance. This breakthrough led to starring roles in popular films like ‘The Heat’ (2013) and ‘Spy’ (2015), transforming her career from a character actress into a leading lady in Hollywood around the age of 40.

Octavia Spencer

For almost twenty years, she worked as an actress in small, often uncredited parts in movies and TV shows. Her career took off when she was 41, playing Minny Jackson in the 2011 film ‘The Help.’ This role won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and made her a well-known star. She’s since been nominated for Academy Awards for her performances in films such as ‘Hidden Figures’ (2016) and ‘The Shape of Water’ (2017).

Phyllis Smith

Before becoming famous for her role as Phyllis on ‘The Office’ (2005–2013) at age 54, she had a diverse career. She started as a professional dancer and cheerleader, then worked in casting. Her success on the sitcom eventually led to another significant role – voicing the character Sadness in the 2015 animated film ‘Inside Out’.

Viola Davis

For years, she was a celebrated actress on stage before becoming a major star in movies and television. She received an Academy Award nomination at age 43 for her memorable role in the 2008 film ‘Doubt.’ Her career soared with leading roles in the series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014–2020) and the film ‘The Help’ (2011). Ultimately, she made history as the first African-American actress to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award – the Triple Crown of Acting.

I’m so excited to hear who you think had the most inspiring career moment! Let me know in the comments which of these amazing women really stood out to you and why. I’m really curious to see what everyone thinks!

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2026-02-13 05:46