Did you know that James Franco has seven different degrees? Or that Rowan Atkinson, known for his iconic character Mister Bean, is an electrical engineer?
Like them, many celebrities have one or more degrees ranging from bachelor's degrees... to doctorates! We invite you to find out about 30 of them.
A child star from the age of 12 with her role in the film ”Leon”, Natalie Portman turned down a number of projects afterwards to focus on her studies. Admitted to the highly prestigious Harvard University in 1999, she obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology while serving as a research assistant in neuropsychology.
Most popular for his simpleton character, Mister Bean, Britain's Rowan Atkinson took his education to the point of becoming an electrical engineer. To do so, he attended Queen's College in Oxford, England, like his father 40 years earlier. It was at Oxford that he began to make a name for himself through a student acting group.
The actress earned a master's degree from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia, in 1992. She then began her career and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Sydney.
He's not the most famous on the list, but perhaps has the most impressive career. Brian May, guitarist in the band Queen, graduated in physical science at Imperial College London. He began a doctoral thesis in astrophysics, which he eventually put aside due to the success of the English band. But he didn't give up: he resumed his thesis and obtained his doctorate in astrophysics in 2007.
The singer and co-founder of Coldplay studied at University College London. He obtained a master's degree in Greek and Latin, with honours! While at this university, he met the other members of the band.
The American, twice winner of the Oscar for Best Actress, speaks French perfectly, as she studied at the French high school in Los Angeles. She does her own dubbing into French in her films.
After graduating from high school, she went to Yale University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in literature in 1985. In 1997, she was made an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by Yale University.
Seven degrees. Yes, yes, you read that right, James Franco has seven different degrees. Admitted to the University of California in Los Angeles to study English in 1996, he dropped out to focus on his acting career. In 2006, he resumed his studies and obtained his degree. In 2008, he simultaneously enrolled in Fine Arts at Columbia University in New York, Fiction Writing at Brooklyn College, Poetry at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, and Film Making at the School of Arts in New York.
Determined to continue, the actor was accepted to do a PhD in English at Yale University in 2010. And, to top it all off, he is also studying literature and creative writing at the Rhode Island School of Design.
The singer with the perfect hair holds a master's degree from the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Nîmes.
The American actress, who played a leading role in the series ”Desperate Housewives”, already had a degree in Kinesiology (the study of body movements). In 2013, at age 38, she also earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and “Chicano Culture” (the term Chicano refers to Mexicans settled in the United States) from Northridge University.
The French actor, holder of a Baccalauréat (equivalent to the Economic and Social A level), enrolled at the Nanterre Law School while taking free classes at the Cours Florent. After a master's degree in law, he joined Sciences Po Paris, where he specialised in international taxation. He graduated with a master's degree from the Paris Institute in 1998.
It can be hard to reconcile an acting career with studies. All the more so when, like Emma Watson, you have starred in 8 Harry Potter films in 10 years. Yet in 2014, the woman who plays Hermione Granger officially graduated from Brown University in the United States earning a bachelor's degree in English literature.
The Russian tennis player, who retired in 2018, managed the feat of combining his sporting career with... writing a thesis in philosophy! He obtained his doctorate in philosophy in 2010, the year of his best position in the ATP ranking (he finished 10th in the world).
The woman who plays a genius scientist in ”The Big Bang Theory” is actually loaded with degrees in her personal life. Mayim Bialik holds a doctorate in neuroscience, obtained at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In 1971, Mery Streep graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting. She continued her studies by obtaining a Master of Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. After that, her acting career took off. This did not prevent her from obtaining an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at Dartmouth University, the institution where she spent an exchange year as a student.
The German chancellor, a formidable politician, was above all an excellent scientist. Angela Merkel has a doctorate in quantum chemistry. In 1986, she defended her thesis which has the title: “An investigation of the mechanism of decay reactions with single bond breaking and calculation of their velocity constants on the basis of quantum chemical and statistical method.” A work that earned her the highest grade.
Regularly voted France's favourite host, the journalist of Greek origin is a graduate of the Sorbonne, where he completed a master's degree in modern literature.
She may have left university to pursue a career in television, but American Oprah Winfrey is still a doctor! Indeed, in 2013, Harvard University awarded her the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.
In April 2020, in the midst of lockdown, the singer added a new line to her CV as she earned a diploma in ancient philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania after taking online courses.
As body-builder, actor, politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger has as many different hats as he does muscles! When he moved from his native Austria to the United States in 1968, the then bodybuilder enrolled at Santa Monica College, where he studied mathematics and business. He then continued his education at the University of Wisconsin where he majored in Fitness Marketing and Business Management. He earned his master's degree in 1979, despite a very busy schedule that prevented him from attending most classes.
The 27-year-old cyclist, 11th in the 2020 Tour de France, is a real philosopher. Having a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Paris-Nanterre, Guillaume Martin has also published a play and a book ”Socrates by Bike”.
Not everyone has the same conditions to study as Shaquille O'Neal, basketball player and true NBA star. To get his doctorate in education, the American basketball player paid his professors to fly in and tutor him around the country. His doctorate was added to the degree in education he had obtained in 2000.
The singer earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Like other celebrities, he was made an Honorary Doctor by Howard University, in 2012.
We're not talking about the Greek philosopher here, but about a Brazilian footballer. Known for his left-wing stance and commitment to democracy in a country then in the midst of a military dictatorship, the player also earned a doctorate in medicine during his career.
The former wrestler turned Hollywood action movie muscleman holds a master's degree in criminology and psychology from the University of Miami.
His name may not ring a bell, but he is certainly the most highly educated man in the world. This Italian has no less than 15 different degrees, in fields such as sociology, literature, law, political science, ... Luciano Baietti, a former college principal, does not intend to stop there and is already preparing a 16th degree, as he explained to AFP.
The American entered the University of Iowa in 1996 to study biochemical engineering. The reason? His twin brother, Michael, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. An episode that deeply marked Ashton Kutcher and gave him this vocation. At least until the American was noticed as a model and then began a career in Hollywood.
The man who would become a huge star thanks to his role as Doctor House never studied medicine in any capacity. A student at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Hugh Laurie graduated with a degree in archaeology and anthropology.
After a successful high school education, Michaël Youn went through the economic preparatory class of a college in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He then entered SKEMA Business School, a business school, where he obtained a master's degree in management.
Prior to her success as a singer via her participation in the TV show Popstars in 2002, Chimène Badi was destined for a profession far from the glitz and glamour. Indeed, after obtaining a BEP (vocational studies certificate), the singer was preparing her diploma in the field of agri-foods. Her goal? To become a hygiene inspector in the hotel and restaurant industry.
But it was a completely different destiny that finally opened up for her as her first two albums sold over a million copies in France.
Born into a family from the 16th arrondissement of Paris, actress Isabelle Huppert describes herself as “the least educated” of her family. However, she can boast of having won two César awards for best actress.
After her baccalaureate and in parallel to the Conservatoire, she enrolled at INALCO to study Russian and Slavic languages. This choice would help her to land certain roles thanks to her mastery of foreign languages.
