Although we may come across the names of America’s biggest stars – actors, musicians, politicians, and entrepreneurs – we rarely think about where they received their formal education. Yet, for many stars, their years in school were a significant time of developing personal and professional identity. Some went to elite schools and universities, some left their education behind, while others became stars despite not having formal schooling at all. Below we take a look at the various schools and universities with the lives of some of this country’s most recognizable public figures.
Natalie Portman – Harvard University
The Oscar-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman graduated with a degree in Psychology from Harvard University. Portman, who began acting as a toddler, was cognizant of the necessity of obtaining an education and balanced her acting career while attending one of the best educational institutions in the world.
Portman’s educational studies in psychology has informed her career in every capacity: in acting, her education in psychology informs the presentation of emotional nuance in representation on screen, and when she is public speaking, or conducting activism, or humanitarian work, she has a strong psychological basis and literate choices to inform her understanding of behaviours and cognitive processes. It is worth noting that while studies can develop behaviours and cognitive processes, they can shape performance creativity if understood and adopted as a framework. The depth of comfort Portman has developed in terms of viewing performances, or opportunities as an advocate for mental health, gender equality, and education is unique. Considered from Portman’s perspective, her viewing, in general, as a student and educator provide her the tools to discuss these issues and be an advocate. Portman’s involvement as a student and educator, illustrates how formal education, such as her study of Psychology at a major university, can act as a vessel to further her outlets of creativity in an education that is also being propelled to engage issues she sees as important in the world.
Jodie Foster – Yale University (courses)
Jodie Foster, who has won an Academy Award, received her education in literature from Yale University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is not only recognized as a gifted actress, but also as an intellectual. While pursuing her degree, Foster was preparing her career around projects involving complex, intelligent roles as well as intelligent stories.
It is easy to see that Foster’s education in literature effects her decision making regarding scripts and directing opportunities, as she often seems most attracted to stories, scripts, and directorial projects with psychological depth and social relevance. Foster shows her analytical ability and skill to articulate in many interviews and speeches—and much of what she demonstrates comes from the education process when you think about what she was learning in college. Furthermore, Foster regularly interprets subtle, nuanced characters and demonstrates her interpretation through her instinctual understanding of script, plot, human motivation and character, which sets her apart from most other actors in Hollywood and serious film.
Jennifer Aniston – Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
Jennifer Aniston, loved actress in film and television, attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. A school that has a history of producing creative talent, it offered Aniston primary level education in functional drama and performance.
LaGuardia’s education laid the groundwork for her future success, where the foundation learning of how to control comedic timing (the God’s glories), character modifications, and maintaining stage presence, were key factors in her success. Her outstanding practical application of those skills fueled her breakout as Rachel Green on Friends, salting her star power with the combination of comedic and emotional elements. Aniston’s recent success in film and television demonstrates that schools such as LaGuardia, produce an actor’s actor, who can carry their careers through television and film.
Elon Musk – University of Pennsylvania
Elon Musk, the successful entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, studied physics and economics at the University of Pennsylvania in both the College of Arts and Sciences and Wharton School of Business.
Musk’s education has given him a unique interdisciplinary perspective for problem solving and developing new technologies. Musk’s physics background, for example, allows him to rationally think through the mechanics associated with his ambitious technological aspirations, such as replicating reusable rockets and electronic vehicles. His educational background in economics provided him with the overall rational thinking needed for building and growing successful business in highly competitive industries. Musk’s combination of education in technical fields and entrepreneurship is key in his revolutionary work across several industries.
Emma Watson – Brown University
Emma Watson is a British actress, primarily known for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, graduated from Brown University in the United States with a degree in English Literature.
Her life as a student broadened her public image and verified her as an astute and socially engaged leader, deepened her study of complex characters and ability to communicate on the world stage– qualities that helped her find her footing as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador where she wrote, and delivered, compelling speeches on issues of gender equality and human rights. Watson’s formal education helped her think about future films to work on about exceptionally compelling female characters like members of the suffragette movement, for instance. In Watson’s world of advocacy and acting, being a student has shaped the clarity, confidence, and depth she brings to her advocacy work, and the values and ideas she articulates while performing.
James Franco – UCLA
James Franco is an award-winning actor/writer/director who studied English at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he gained a passion for literature, storytelling, and the art of filmmaking. He began to work in Hollywood while taking classes there. When he had completed the acting part of his studies, he returned to complete the degree, which showed his steadfast commitment to his own intellectual and creative development. His knowledge and experience in these studies have informed and guided his many pursuits.
Franco frequently draws upon his formal literary training when developing and performing complex characters, designing and writing screenplays, and directing challenging films. He later also pursued several graduate programs in creative writing and in film, but UCLA was the institution where he began his journey from actor to artist-academic. Franco is a prominent example of a figure from Hollywood who pairs scholarly awareness with artistic exploration.
Bradley Cooper—Georgetown University (USA) and Study Abroad in France
Bradley Cooper studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, has an English degree from Georgetown University, and learned French during my time living there. In addition to becoming bilingual, my study abroad experience had a lasting impact on my world view and acting abilities. The relationship he instilled with a culture later set him apart in Hollywood as an actor, illuminating the potential impact of international education on the creativity and world-mindedness of artists.
Lady Gaga—Education in the U.S. & Short Study Abroad in Italy
Before her rise to global superstardom, Stefani Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga, attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, yet there is a lesser-known fact that she engaged in a study abroad trip and lived in Italy, studying music and art. The Italian influence in music, European sensibility in style, and acknowledgment of Europe on the impact of her career, artistry, and identity, an area where she has studied and lived. The evidence is clear that even a very short study abroad can be significant in terms of potential creativity development and personal growth.
Even though formal education is not the only way to succeed, a lot of American celebrities highlight that the appropriate type of school or university (or in some cases, a school overseas), can play a critical role in defining a person’s trajectory and identity. Whether informed by taxpayer-funded teachers or including other experiential opportunities, through their paths and choices, they essentially proved one thing: education matters.
Education can inspire
Ultimately, the right educational experience (whether based here in the U.S. or overseas) can not only mark the beginning of a potential journey that leads to fame, but also offer personal evolution, global awareness, and impactful legacies.
