Gloria Estefan, Emma Watson, or Natalie Portman graduated with honors in careers unrelated to fame. Eva Longoria is a physiotherapist. Chris Martin has a degree in ancient history.
Many Hollywood and pop stars hold prestigious college degrees: as the popular saying goes, knowledge is power, and great stars know it. Brad Pitt, for example, studied law and journalism, although before completing his degree, he landed the memorable role in “Thelma & Louise” and never stopped working. Meanwhile, he took acting classes with the British Roy London and had various odd jobs, such as a chauffeur or a chicken mascot in a restaurant.
Taylor Swift received an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from New York University and attended the graduation ceremony with all her peers in 2022. There, she delivered an unforgettable speech to the students: ” “Life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once. Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release. What I mean by that is, knowing what things to keep, and what things to release. You can’t carry all things, all grudges, all updates on your ex, all enviable promotions your school bully got at the hedge fund his uncle started. Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go”.
Chris Martin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Ancient World Sciences from University College London, the third oldest higher education institution in England. He graduated with honors in Greek and Latin, being the top student of his class.
Natalie Portman holds a doctorate in psychology from Harvard University, which she undoubtedly applied to her memorable role in “Black Swan.” The final stage of her doctorate coincided with the filming of the Star Wars movies, but she managed to complete it. She speaks Hebrew, Japanese, French, German, Arabic, and some Spanish.
Emma Watson, who became famous for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, never hesitated to pursue a university education. In 2014, she graduated in English Literature from the prestigious Brown University. She also studied creative writing at the University of Oxford.
Edward Norton graduated in history from Yale University while beginning his career with films like “Everyone Says I Love You,” “American History X,” or “Fight Club.” He also studied Japanese and worked.
Bradley Cooper graduated in English Studies from Georgetown University. He also studied French and lived in France for six months. Later, he moved to New York to focus on acting training to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Before becoming internationally famous for “Desperate Housewives,” Eva Longoria attended Texas A&M University and graduated as a physiotherapist. When she finished university, Eva was discovered through a talent contest, which led her to travel to Los Angeles. But she always kept her degree because, as she once said, she wanted a plan B in case acting didn’t work out.
Gloria Estefan attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where she graduated in 1979 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in French. While attending the University of Miami, Estefan also worked as a translator of English, Spanish, and French at the Miami International Airport Customs Department. In 1984, she was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor awarded by the University of Miami.
Kevin Costner studied Business Administration and Management at California State University and worked in marketing before becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.