Greta Lee had accepted her "dream" wouldn't happen before things "unexpectedly" clicked.
The 42-year-old actress was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in 2023 film Past Lives, and since then her career has soared with roles in The Morning Show, A House of Dynamite and Tron: Ares.
Reflecting on the period when she was struggling to get roles, she told the Metro newspaper's 60 Seconds column: "I know what it's like to feel a ticking clock and being a woman, and I'm a woman of colour.
"I'm in my 40s and I've lived a life of navigating all kinds of highs and lows and the possibility of trying to accept a dream that will not happen - and then unexpectedly it does."
Greta insisted waiting so long for her success has made her more determined to make up for years of missed opportunities.
She added: "It's not about the money at all. There were a lot of years of experiences lost - I feel like I'm making up for it now."
The star also credited her breakout role in Past Lives with kickstarting the run of major parts she is on.
She said: "A hundred percent. I would not be here if it weren't for Past Lives.
"I feel we have to continue to be fiercely protective over smaller arthouse movies like that."
Meanwhile, despite her rise to prominence, Greta is still refusing to join social media, and she admitted her PR team have "given up" trying to sway her.
She explained: "I don't mean to be overly critical of it but I am. I think there's a real danger there.
"I can speak just from an artistic point of view, the idea of audience and how we are now so algorithmic, and when you are contorting yourself to try to appease a mass on this kind of scale, I can't say that results in the best."
