Never Too Late (or Too Early!)
Whenever it feels that the life you want is taking forever to start, it’s good to remember that everyone’s journey starts differently.
Sometimes impatience sets in, but the goal is to just keep moving forward. Movement and progress means you’re inviting new opportunities.
No matter what point in your life you may be, its never to late (or too early) to pursue and reach your goals. In due time, things will fall into place. Take it from a few actors who have been there; they’ve struggled and their careers launched at different times. It’s all done in patience, hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Better late than never!
Here are 6 actors and actresses that have started their careers at unconventional times:
1. Jeremy Renner got his big break at the age of 37 in “The Hurt Locker”. Before his break he had taken part in films such as “Dahmer” in which he played the serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer. According to him it was a very challenging role to cope with considering how easily Dahmer got away with his victims. What he thought was a challenging performance, was actually well received by people. He also took part in the movie S.W.A.T in 2003. Renner took part in a few films that were nominated in festivals. Later in 2012, at the age of 41 he played Hawkeye in the Marvel film which most of us know, “The Avengers”. Since then Renner has also played roles in The Bourne Legacy, Hansel & Gretel, American Hustle and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, to name a few.
2. Steve Carell has earned recognition for his comedic work on TV sitcom “The Office” (2005) and in films such as “The 40 Year Old Virgin” (2005) and his Oscar nominated performance in “Foxcatcher” (2014) at the age of 52. Carell first wanted to pursue Law school but when it was time to fill out essay questions such as “Why do you want to be an attorney?” he couldn’t answer it because he really didn’t know why. Pondering the question and talking to his parents he came to the conclusion that he would pursue acting… and so he did. His roles in The Office & Anchorman singlehandedly launched his career into being one of the highest-paid actors in the business.
3. Louis Szekely, known better as Louis C.K, is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, director and editor. He has taken part in films such as “The Invention of Lying”, and “American Hustle”. At the age of 43 he got his big break by his comedic craft, Louie, which he had been working on for years. As a writer he has excelled, earning him Emmy nominations for his work on The Chris Rock Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
4. Another ‘Office’ alum! Jenna Fisher is an actress and director. In 2005, at the age of 31 Fisher landed her breakthrough role as Pam Beesley- Halpert for the hit TV sitcom “The Office”. But before this, there was definitely a struggle. As her career was developing, it took her 3 years before she landed a speaking role for a part on Spin City. From then on she appeared in small indie films and guest pots on television shows such as: Six Feet Under, That ‘70s Show, and What I like about you. To name a few. Then on, she worked on her own mockumentary named, Lollilove. Being so exhausted from managing many aspects of her film, she was discourage to direct and decided to stick to one thing, acting. She was still struggling to get parts, and she spent several years working as a receptionist and administrative assistant in Los Angeles. Eventually, in 2005, she landed the role as Pam for The Office. Slowly more opportunities came her way and Fishers career was more established. She starred in films such as, The Brothers of Solomon, Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The Promotion.
5. Shirley Temple – America’s singing, dancing, curly-haired sweetheart was just a toddler at the age of 3 when she was cast for her first film. 2 years later in 1934 Temple got her big break in the film “Bright Eyes”. She was the first child star to receive a Juvenile Oscar.
6. Jane Lynch – Lynch spent 15 years in Chicago, acting in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and, at the time of her audition, was one of only two women picked to join The Second City comedy troupe. She then continued to hone her comical and improvisational skills at Annoyance Theater, playing Carol Brady in the theater’s The Real Live Brady Bunch. She started working in movies in 1988 but flew under the radar for several years. Audiences and critics took notice of Lynch for her turn in Judd Apatow’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin. She told Fresh Air’s Terry Gross that the role was originally intended for a man but also that, at the urging of Steve Carell’s wife Nancy Walls, was offered to Lynch instead. Beginning from there, she took supporting roles in a series of films including Role Models, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Space Chimps, The Rocker, The Hammer, Another Cinderella Story, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Wreck-It Ralph, and Spring Breakdown. Her portrayal of Sue Sylvester in Glee – arguably her most famous and successful role to date – has won numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy.