Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, writer, and director who achieved fame after his 40s. He was born in 1955 in Arkansas and began acting at a young age, although he did not achieve any significant success until he starred in the musical drama film "Sling Blade" (1996).

For his performance as Karl Childers, Thornton received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Since then, he has gone on to star in numerous movies. Some of them include the following:

- Armageddon (1998)

- Monster’s Ball (2001)

- The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

- Bad Santa (2003)

- Goliath (2016).

Thus, his success continued with directing roles in several films such as "All the Pretty Horses" (2000) and "Jayne Mansfield’s Car" (2012).

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball was an American actress and comedian who achieved fame after her 40s. Born in 1911 in New York, she originally wanted to be a fashion designer. She eventually transitioned into acting and starred in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including "The Big Street" (1942), "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1943), and "Dance, Girl, Dance" (1940).

However, it was not until she created the television sitcom "I Love Lucy" that she gained success. Following its debut in 1951, "I Love Lucy" became one of the most popular shows on television for six consecutive seasons. After the series ended its run, Ball continued to star in several other successful projects. Some of them are:

- The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show (1957-1960)

- The Lucy Show (1962-1968)

- Here’s Lucy (1968-1974)

Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian-American actor who rose to fame after his 40s. After initially pursuing a career in engineering, he transitioned into acting in 1950. However, it was not until he starred in "Airplane!" (1980) that he achieved significant success.

He followed this up with leading roles in films such as "The Naked Gun" series and "Spy Hard" (1996).

During his career, Nielsen received numerous awards, including five Golden Globe Award nominations and two Emmy Awards. Following his death in 2010, Nielsen is remembered for his wry humor and comedic performances.

Ang Lee

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director, screenwriter, and producer who achieved fame after his 40s. After moving to the United States in 1978, he studied theatre directing at the University of Illinois before making his directorial debut with "Pushing Hands" (1992). He followed this up with acclaimed films.

These include:

- Sense & Sensibility (1995)

- Crouching Tiger

- Hidden Dragon (2000)

- Brokeback Mountain (2005)

- Life of Pi (2012)

- Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016).

In addition to numerous awards from various prestigious film festivals, Lee has also been nominated for four Academy Awards and won two of them.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren is an English actress who became a Hollywood star in her 40s. Born in 1945, she began acting at the age of 18 when she starred in various stage productions.

However, it was not until she starred in the crime drama "Prime Suspect" (1992) that she achieved worldwide fame. She followed this up with leading roles in films such as "Gosford Park" (2001), "Calendar Girls" (2003), "Pride & Prejudice" (2005), and "The Queen" (2006).

For her performance as Queen Elizabeth II, Mirren won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She has since gone on to star in numerous other successful films, such as "Red" (2010) and "The Hundred-Foot Journey" (2014).

Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow is a renowned American director who achieved success in her 40s. After studying painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, she eventually transitioned into filmmaking in the 1980s, despite her early work not achieving any major recognition.

However, this changed when she directed Near Dark (1987), a horror vampire movie that was critically acclaimed.