Some of the biggest actors and actresses we know today were born or grew up famous, but many others were not. And it took some time for them to get to where they are today. According to Harvard University, the average age to become famous is 29. So, here are some of the biggest black actors and actresses that got their big breaks after 30.
MORGAN FREEMAN
Morgan Freeman, born in 1937, has won numerous awards in his illustrious career, which include the Golden Globe Award. He has starred in many blockbuster movies. Although he started his career early, it was not until his impressive performance as Hoke Colburn, the kind-hearted stubborn chauffeur in the 1989’s film Driving Miss Daisy, that he became famous. He was 52 when he got into the spotlight.
VIOLA DAVIS
Viola Davis, born in 1965, also started her acting career in the 1990s. Although she had some success in her early movies, Davis’s first most commercially successful and critically acclaimed film was Doubt in 2008. Her outstanding performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She was 43 at the time.
SAMUEL L. JACKSON
Our beloved Samuel L. Jackson, born in 1948, has a lot of international awards and accolades and is one of the highest-grossing actors alive. It is no news that Jackson has a phenomenal presence in every film, but it took more than 20 years for people to notice his exceptional talent as an actor. He became famous after his performance as Jules in the Quentin Tarantino 1994 movie Pulp Fiction at the age of 46.
TARAJI P. HENSON
Taraji p. Henson, born in 1970, started acting back in the 1990s and we’ve known her since her groundbreaking performances on Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow. The Howard University alum, however, started to receive widespread recognition and critical acclaim in 2015 when she was cast as Cookie Lyon, the outspoken wife and mother of three in Empire. Henson was 45 at the time. She received many awards for starring as a lead in Fox’s musical drama series, including a Golden Globe Award for best actress in television drama series.
KERRY WASHINGTON
Kerry Washington, born in 1977, has also been acting for years before she landed her biggest gig yet – the role of Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert in the 2012 TV series Scandal. She was 35 at the time, and her performance won her a multitude of awards, including the Golden Globe Award for best actress.
OCTAVIA SPENCER
Octavia Spencer, born in 1972, started her acting career in 1996, but only got her big break in 2011 when she starred as Minny Jackson, a maid in the award-winning The Help. She was 39 at that time and won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The 37-year-old shared the exciting news via Instagram earlier today with a caption that reads, “An answered prayer.”
According to his bio, Leslie’s now-fiancé, Nana-Yaw Asamoah, is a New York native and a sports and entertainment executive. He currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer of AMB Sports and Entertainment.
While the couple’s romantic relationship has not been public until now, Leslie has been open about being bisexual. In fact, she is the first Black and queer woman to play the aforementioned DC’s superhero.
During an interview on E! News’ Daily Pop, the actress shared that her role in the CW series inspired her to come out to her mom. “For me, I never felt like I had to hide anything,” Leslie said. “That wasn’t really where I was coming from. I just hadn’t had a conversation, so I just wanted to talk to my mom about it because I was living my life. I just wanted to be able to talk to her so she didn’t have to be told through the media.”
Javicia Leslie as Batwoman/ CW
According to the shared Instagram post, Asamoah proposed to Leslie in Napa Valley, at what appears to be a winery, in front of a beautiful mountain backdrop. Friends, family, and fans flooded the comment section with congratulations and best wishes to the couple. We are joining in as well!
Lauren Speed-Hamilton and Cameron Hamilton, beloved stars of Netflix’s Love Is Blind Season 1, have announced they are expecting their first child, a milestone following a four-year fertility journey. The couple, who charmed millions of fans with their love story, shared the joyful news earlier this week, via an Instagram video and an exclusive People interview, revealing their baby is due in fall 2025.
The Hamiltons’ path to parenthood was marked by challenges, including multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Cameron, 34, described the emotional moment they saw “pregnant” on a Clearblue test: “We were counting down the days… it was a huge moment.” Lauren, 37, shared that she “fell to her knees and cried,” calling the news a “relief” after years of anxiety-inducing tests. The announcement came shortly after the loss of Lauren’s father in December 2024, making it a bittersweet “light in the darkness” for their family.
Love Is Blind’s Lauren Speed-Hamilton and Cameron Hamilton / People magazine
The couple, married since November 2018, has been open about their fertility struggles on their podcast, The Love Seat.
Lauren, now in her second trimester, is navigating cravings for cheese and fruit, with Cameron as her steadfast supporter. They look forward to reliving childhood through their baby, with Lauren excited for “Disney on Ice and the zoo.” As they prepare for parenthood, the Hamiltons continue to inspire with their love and resilience, proving that their Love Is Blind connection remains unbreakable.
Taylour Paige-Angulo shared that she is expecting her first child with her husband, fashion designer Rivington Angulo, earlier today.
The announcement, made official through a captionless Instagram post, featured Paige-Angulo in a white dress that beautifully highlighted her baby bump. This milestone comes after a deeply personal journey, including a decades-long battle with endometriosis, which the ‘Zola’ actress openly discussed on social media.
Paige-Angulo’s pregnancy reveal follows her first public hint at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards on February 27, where she debuted her (hidden) baby bump in a chic brown dress. A TikTok video captured her chatting with fellow actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors.
Behind Taylour’s joyful announcement lies a challenging history with endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing severe pain and fertility issues. The actress has been candid about her struggle, which went undiagnosed for 20 years. In an emotional Instagram post on March 4, 2025, during Endometriosis Awareness Month, she described it as a “lifelong journey of healing” and a “really violent illness” that brought “agony and turmoil.” She recounted debilitating symptoms—pain so intense it made her “see stars,” monthly vomiting, and times she couldn’t drive.
In fall 2023, Paige-Angulo underwent a four-hour surgery to remove endometrial tissue. Reflecting on the experience, she wrote, “So many women are going THROUGH it okay. Be gentle with us.”
Taylour Paige and Rivington Angulo/ Instagram
The Angulos tied the knot on October 5, 2022, on Paige’s 32nd birthday. Their intimate ceremony unfolded at the Wattles Mansion in Los Angeles. The couple’s romance had blossomed quickly after meeting during the pandemic at a party hosted by a mutual friend. Paige-Angulo later recalled how Angulo’s energy felt like “home” from the start. For the occasion, she wore a custom sheer white gown designed by her then-fiance. The event was attended by close friends, including a notable appearance by Rihanna, adding a touch of star power to the heartfelt affair. Paige-Angulo described the day on Instagram as “the greatest day of my life.”