Seven eminent Hollywood actors who are also highly educated
What's the story
The entertainment industry demands you to start young, so that you become a star by the time you reach your late 20s. In this process, pursuing education often takes a backseat. However, there are many actors who are not only famous, but have also prioritized their education before entering Hollywood. So without any further ado, here are seven famous celebrities who hold professional degrees.
Number 1
Emma Watson holds a bachelor's degree in English literature
Just like Hermione Granger, her most famous role till date, Emma Watson is also into education. She graduated from Brown University in 2014, with a bachelor's degree in English literature. During 2011-12, she attended Worcester College, Oxford as a "visiting student." It took her five years to finish graduation, as she "ended up taking two full semesters off" owing to work commitments.
Number 2
Ashton Kutcher pursued biochemical engineering for his brother
Ashton Kutcher is very close to his twin brother, who has had a heart transplant and also suffers from cerebral palsy. Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1996 for him. His planned major was biochemical engineering, which he wanted to study to find a cure for his brother's ailment. While at Iowa, he was approached by a talent-scout. The rest is history.
Number 3
Bradley 'Hangover' Cooper has a Master of Fine Arts degree
Named as one of the world's highest-paid actors for three years straight, Bradley Cooper is a craze. He's also pretty highly-qualified, having graduated with honors from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1997. He also received a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 2000 from the Actors Studio Drama School at The New School in New York City.
Number 4
Natalie Portman is a Harvard grad, has co-authored research papers
Academy award winner Natalie Portman was already into films when she graduated from Harvard University with a BA degree in psychology in 2003, while serving as a research assistant to noted lawyer-academic Alan Dershowitz. She had maintained, "I'd rather be smart than a movie star." When she was a student, she also had co-authored two research papers that were published in scientific journals.
Number 5
Hugh Jackman, our favorite Wolverine, graduated with BA in Communications
Our very own Wolverine, Hugh Jackman isn't only a noted actor, he's well-educated too. In the late 1980s, he studied at the University of Technology, Sydney, graduating in 1991 with a BA in Communications. He also pursued acting at the Actors' Centre in Sydney. In 1994, he graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts of Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia.
Number 6
Our very own Dr. Strange is no stranger to education
Benedict Cumberbatch looks very intelligent on-screen, and has brains in real life too. He was an arts scholar at Harrow School, after which he volunteered to be an English teacher at a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling. He also studied drama at Victoria University of Manchester, and graduated with an MA in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Number 8
Rowan 'Mr. Bean' Atkinson holds MSc from Queen's College, Oxford
Finding Rowan Atkinson's name in this list might be a bit surprising, but as actor Chris Tucker says, "It takes intelligence to make real comedy," and Atkinson proves this to the hilt. He has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Newcastle University, and pursued MSc in Electrical Engineering at The Queen's College, Oxford. His MSc thesis was on application of self-tuning control.