9 Actors Who Won An Oscar Early In Their Career, And 9 Who Won Surprisingly Late

BuzzFeed
·4 min read
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1.Early in career: Jennifer Lawrence.

Jennifer in a black coat and scarf looking away from the camera

2.Late in career: Michelle Yeoh.

Michelle with eyeball on the forehead, wearing a quilted jacket and floral shirt, gazing to the side

She made her acting debut back in 1984 and has been featured in over 60 TV or movie projects. Michelle finally won Best Actress last year at 60 years old for portraying Evelyn Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Allyson Riggs / A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

3.Early in career: Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba with a bald head and an earring, wearing a leather jacket

Less than 10 years after his film debut, he won Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for his portrayal of Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire. Cuba was 29, becoming one of the few men to take home the award before the age of 30.

TriStar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

4.Late in career: Leonardo DiCaprio.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, in fur attire, gripping a rifle in a snowy terrain from the movie "The Revenant"

Despite incredible performances all the way back to his Titanic days, the actor didn't snag an Oscar until 2015, when he won Best Actor for playing Hugh Glass in The Revenant.

20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

5.Early in career: Lupita Nyong'o.

Lupita sitting on grass, leaning on a tree, wearing a long, patterned dress in scene from 12 Years a Slave

In 2014, she won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave. This role was Lupita's feature-film debut.

Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

6.Late in career: Kate Winslet.

Kate Winslet rests on her forearms in bed, looking pensive, with a person reading beside her

She received five previous Oscar nominations before finally winning in 2009. Kate took home the award for Best Actress for playing Hanna Schmitz in The Reader.

Weinstein Co. / © Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

7.Early in career: Julie Andrews.

Julie as Mary Poppins, wearing a hat with flowers and fruit, a bow tie, and a jacket

In 1965, Julie won Best Actress for starring in Mary Poppins. It was her debut film performance.

Courtesy Everett Collection

8.Late in career: Jeff Bridges.

Jeff with a beard playing an acoustic guitar, focused on the strings, wearing a denim shirt

Jeff started acting back in the '50s. He was nominated for an Oscar five times before finally winning in 2010 for his performance as Otis "Bad" Blake in Crazy Heart.

Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

9.Early in career: Angelina Jolie.

Angelina in a yellow T-shirt sitting, looking at the camera with a slight smile, in Girl, Interrupted

In 2000, she won Best Supporting Actress for playing Lisa Rowe in Girl, Interrupted. Angelina was just 24 years old.

Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

10.Late in career: Brendan Fraser.

Brendan looking away from the camera in a kitchen setting in a scene from The Whale

Last year, he won Best Actor for his portrayal of Charlie in The Whale. It was a big comeback moment for Brendan, whose career began over 30 years ago.

A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

11.Early in career: Hilary Swank.

Hilary Swank portraying Brandon Teena in a plaid shirt, seated with hands clasped and looking thoughtful

In 2000, Hilary won Best Actress at age 25 for playing Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. She also won Best Actress for her performance in Million Dollar Baby just five years later.

Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

12.Late in career: Regina King.

Regina in a striped jacket looking back over her shoulder indoors

Regina got her start as a teenager, playing Brenda Jenkins on 227 in the mid-'80s. She finally won Best Supporting Actress in 2019 for her performance as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk.

Annapurna Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

13.Early in career: Jodie Foster.

Jodie Foster in a scene from the movie "The Accused," wearing a jacket and looking pensive

At 26, she won Best Actress in 1989 for playing Sarah Tobias in The Accused. Three years later, Jodie won again for her performance in The Silence of the Lambs.

Courtesy Everett Collection

14.Late in career: Sean Penn.

Sean sitting in a store with shelves full of products in the background

He began acting in 1974 but didn't snag an Oscar until 2003 — nearly 30 years later — for playing Jimmy Markum in Mystic River.

Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

15.Early in career: Jennifer Hudson.

Jennifer in Dreamgirls, singing

16.Late in career: Ke Huy Quan.

Quan in a a striped shirt with surprised expression in a mall-like setting

17.Early in career: Charlize Theron.

Charlize looking intense in a scene from Monster

Less than 10 years into her acting career, she won an Oscar at 28. Charlize took home the 2004 award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in Monster.

Newmarket Releasing / © Newmarket Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

18.And finally, late in career: Anthony Hopkins.

Anthony wearing a T-shirt as Hannibal Lecter

Any other actors who won an Oscar early or late in their career? LMK in the comments below!