Do you sometimes feel like celebrities were just handed their glamorous futures? Surprisingly, some stars actually worked real jobs and went through tough school grading assignments like the rest of us. It may make you feel better to stereotype all stars into a “blonde, bimbo” category but many of them have accomplished degrees in specialized fields. Included here are a few celebrities who have gone through higher education.
Natalie Portman
From her days in Star Wars to her award-winning Black Swan performance, Natalie Portman knows exactly how to capture the attention of movie-goers. Her understanding of the human psyche could be attributed to the psychology degree she received from Harvard in 2003. Portman does not just limit her learning to studying the brain; fluent in French, Hebrew and Japanese, Portman keeps her mind sharp in a way that overshadows her appearance.
Hugh Jackman
Regaled as the “sexiest man alive” by People in 2008, Jackman has proved he is more than just a pretty face. With a Bachelor’s in communications from Sydney U of T, Jackman was a trained journalist before the cameras fell in love with him.
Jodie Foster
Foster may be a blue-eyed blonde, but nothing about her says “bimbo.” In 1985, Foster received her Bachelor’s in English Studies from Yale before she became an Oscar-winning actress. Due to many accomplishments on Foster’s part, she was awarded an honorary PhD from Yale 12 years later.
Lucy Liu
Widely renowned for her starring role on Charlie’s Angels, Liu has more than enough brains to function off-screen. Liu graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Asian Languages and Cultures years before she became a spokesperson for breast cancer awareness. Like Portman, Liu has become a lover of language and is fluent in five different languages, including Mandarin and Italian.
Rowan Atkinson
While on-screen, Atkinson may be best-known for his goofy performance on Mr. Bean; though he is anything but silly when it comes to academics. Atkinson graduated from Oxford University with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. While Mr. Bean may not be able to figure out how anything works, his alter-ego has the whole situation under control.
Leonard Nimoy
Best known for his classic portrayal of Spock on Star Trek, Nimoy received his Master of Arts in Bilingual Education long before his screen appearances. Since then, Nimoy has received two honorary doctorates due to his work in arts activism, Holocaust remembrance and environmental advocation.
Emma Watson
While starring in the internationally acclaimed Harry Potter films, Emma Watson did not forget her education. Watson worked to study at Brown and graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Literature. Watson is now working on the front lines of the gender equality and fair-pay movements sweeping celebrities everywhere.
