Mae Laborde wasn’t trying to get “discovered.” She was living out her years in her little Santa Monica, Calif., cottage, cooking, raising tomatoes, painting and generally minding her own business. However, she was well-known in her neighborhood as the little old lady (she’s 4-feet-10) who cruised fearlessly up and down the streets in her gigantic 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88.

 

In 2002, Steve Lopez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and Mae’s former neighbor, interviewed her for a lighthearted story about driving. The story attracted the attention of Sherrie Spillane, a longtime L.A. talent agent and the ex-wife of the late crime novelist Mickey Spillane. The two met, and before she knew it, Sherrie had a new client.

 

Mae, now 97 years old, has been doing commercial and T.V. work ever since. She played Vanna White 40 years in the future on a recent episode of “MADtv.” She has appeared on “Real Time With Bill Maher” and ESPN and done commercials for Lexus and J.P. Morgan.

 

The secret to her success? “I’m just a natural,” she says. She advises those who want to live a long life to never retire.

 

Next for Mae is a small role in a Ben Stiller movie. “I don’t know anyone else her age who could keep up with her,” Sherrie Spillane says. “But then, I don’t know anyone else her age.”

Watch a video of Mae here.