You might be surprised to learn that some of your favorite celebrities are exceptionally well educated. While some pursued less glamorous careers before finding fame, others chose to complete their education after finding success in the limelight. As these stars demonstrate, seeking an education is always a good choice.
James Franco takes his education seriously. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Columbia, an MFA from NYU, an MFA from Brooklyn College, an MFA from Warren Wilson College, and is working on a PhD in English at Yale. Somewhere, the actor/writer/director/producer also found time to take classes at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Emma Watson is just as smart as her know-it-all Harry Potter character, Hermione Granger, earning straight As in school before enrolling at Brown University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature.
Shaquille O’Neal left LSU after three years, but he promised his mother he would eventually return and complete his bachelor’s degree, which he did in 2000, earning his Bachelor of Arts in general studies. O’Neal, while still playing professional basketball, earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix, saying that “It’s just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else.” On top of these two degrees, O’Neil earned his Ed.D. in Human Resource Development from Barry University in 2012 and has stated he has plans to attend law school.
Mayim Bialik plays the awkward genius Amy Farrah Fowler on “The Big Bang Theory”, a role that came easy for her—Bialik earned a PhD in neuroscience in 2008 from UCLA. Her dissertation was titled “Hypothalamic Regulation in Relation to Maladaptive, Obsessive-Compulsive, Affiliative, and Satiety Behaviors in Prader-Willi Syndrome.” Not the least bit impressive... 🙂
Gerard Butler, before pursuing acting professionally, earned his law degree from Glasgow University (where he was president of the university law society) and worked in a law firm in Edinburgh as a trainee lawyer.
Miuccia Prada, the famed Italian fashion designer, initially had her eye set on politics, earning her PhD in political science from the University of Milan. During her studies, the later-to-be fashion icon became increasingly interested in feminist theory and involved in the women’s rights movement of the 1970s, an ideology that has had a strong influence on her designs.
Ken Jeong of “The Hangover” and “Community” fame graduated from high school at age 16, completed his undergraduate studies at Duke University, and then earned his M.D. (that’s Dr. Jeong to you!) from UNC Chapel Hill. It was during his residency that Jeong started developing his standup comedy, eventually moving to Los Angeles and pursuing acting fulltime. Although now a successful Hollywood name, Jeong remains a licensed physician in California.
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