11 Awesome Actors Who Broke Into Hollywood Late

10. Viola Davis

Despite winning a Tony Award in 2001, Hollywood didn't pay much attention to the fantastic Viola Davis until, at 43 years of age, she appeared in John Patrick Shanley's 2008 drama Doubt and received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her searing performance in just a single scene.

Davis' first role was way back in 1996 and she spent more than a decade as a jobbing actress, but post-Doubt she's enjoyed a consistent slew of juicy roles for which she has received regular acclaim (yes, even Suicide Squad), not to mention an additional two Oscar nominations (including a Best Supporting Actress win for Fences).

Today she's generally accepted to be one of the best actresses of her generation, despite the vast majority of the world having no idea who she was barely a decade ago.