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The 7 Things Aunjanue Ellis Suggests Doing Now

Will Smith s King Richard costar gives tips on life and success after 50

Nolis Anderson Double Emmy nominee Aunjanue Ellis, 52, is an Oscar front-runner for

1 Be a believer

I did not have faith in myself: I had no money and was raised by my grandmother on government assistance. But she believed in me, so I try to encourage other people who dim their lights to let their lights shine. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

2 Seek inspiration

Before I graduated from New York University, I was cast as Ariel in The Tempest with . I still wasn’t sure about acting, but I saw that as a prophetic moment, and it made me want to continue.

3 Be patient

It took me until age 50 to get nominated for anything — two Emmys, for When They See Us and Lovecraft Country. There’s no life expectancy on creativity, no time limit.

4 Raise up heroes

Oracene Price was someone no one knew — always in the shadow of Mr. Williams. People assumed she was just a cheerleader for her daughters, but she mentored Venus and Serena — as much as her husband did — and changed the face of tennis. I also deeply admire Fannie Lou Hamer, a Mississippi sharecropper who helped organize Freedom Summer. I'm writing a screenplay about her.

5 Ride on

is essential to my joy. People always look at me and they’re, like, “Where’s your car?”

6 Honor thy roots

Mississippi will always be home. I live in the house where I was raised — bad pipes, rainin’ inside. But I have to keep my grandmother’s house going. And we need progressives down here!

7 Keep singing

From age 3 to 18, I was probably in church up to six times a week. A song we sing in church goes: “I’ve come too far from where I started from / Nobody told me that the road would be easy / But I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.” And that’s how I feel. MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS