Cool from School: 10 Actresses Who Have a College Education

I love living vicariously through celebrities as much as the next girl. The amount of actresses I follow on Instagram will attest to that. But when I’m slaving away at my computer finishing an essay while the Kardashians make millions off simply existing, it’s hard to believe that school will ultimately (hopefully) provide something as satisfying to me as a brand provides to the Kardashians. This is a frequent occurrence in Hollywood – people who never went to college happen to be in the right place at the right time, skyrocket to fame unlike many actors who constantly struggle, and then they’re set for life.

However, there are still many actresses out there who earned their college degrees and have proven to be classy, educated ladies who can be an inspiration to all girls, whether or not they’re pursuing acting. The following women are reminders that education enriches our lives and that it actually is worth it.  

1) Lupita Nyong’o

Known for: 12 Years a Slave, Non-Stop

College & Major: Hampshire College, Film & Theatre Studies; Yale School of Drama, Masters in Acting

“What Hampshire is really good for is teaching you to be self-reliant and self-motivated, and I discovered that I had it in me to have a dream, make it a goal, and make it happen.”

2)  Mindy Kaling

Known for: The Office, The Mindy Project

College & Major: Dartmouth College, Playwriting

“If you’re a kid who was not especially a star in your high school, I recommend going to a college in the middle of nowhere. I got all the attention I could ever have wanted.”

3) Natalie Portman

Known for: V is for Vendetta, Black Swan

College & Major: Harvard University, Psychology

“I don’t care if college ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star.”

4) Emma Watson

Known for: The Harry Potter franchise

College & Major: Brown University, English Literature

“I’ve been very fulfilled by my studies. English has helped me think in an analytical way. It’s helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness to my own life. And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity. I’m sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting.”

5) Kerry Washington

Known for: Scandal, Django Unchained

College & Major: George Washington University, Anthropology and Sociology

“I always felt like my value was much more in my intellect than it was in my appearance.”

6) America Ferrera

Known for: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ugly Betty

College & Major: University of Southern California, Theater and International Relations

“This is your life; you can let people make decisions for your life or you can make them yourself.”

7) Rachel McAdams

Known for: Mean Girls, The Notebook

College & Major: York University, Theatre

“There are people like you out there, trust me. When I was in school, I felt like I was the only one, and I got to college, and a whole new world opened up for me, and I’ve never, ever felt that way again.”

8)  Tina Fey

Known for: Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock

College & Major: University of Virginia, Drama

“You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.”

9) Rashida Jones

Known for: Parks and Recreation, The Office

College & Major: Harvard University, Religion and Philosophy

“Invest in your brain, invest in your talents. Those things can appreciate and they get better as you get older.”

10) Amy Poehler

Known for: Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation

College & Major: Boston College, Media & Communications

“I think we should stop asking people in their twenties what they ‘want to do’ and start asking them what they don’t want to do. Instead of asking students to ‘declare their major’ we should ask students to ‘list what they will do anything to avoid’.”

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