Sure being a talented actor or musician is an achievement enough. But, what about celebrities that that valued the importance of education despite their high earning careers. Here are 8 celebrities that didn’t let fame get in the way of academia.

1. Emma Watson

Famous for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, Emma Watson is a highly educated young woman. While completing Harry Potter she attended Brown and Oxford University, and graduated with a degree in Literature.

2. Rowan Atkins (Mr. Bean)

This may come as quite a shock, but Atkins actually has a M.Sc from Oxford University in electrical engineering. If the acting gigs ever run out, he won’t have any problem.

3. Natalie Portman

Sure Natalia Portman is famous for her beauty, but what we should be talking about is her brain! Not only does she speak five languages including Hebrew, Arabic, and French, but she has a B.A. from Harvard University in Psychology.

4. Lisa Kudrow

It takes a real smart woman to play a space case like Phoebe (Friends, hello!). Lisa Kudrow attended the prestigious Vassar College and attained a degree in biology. Following graduation she worked as a medical researcher before landing her first big role!

5. Mayim Bialik

Not only does Mayim play a scientist on the screen, she is one! The actress has a Ph.D. from UCLA in neuroscience. Talk about blending business and pleasure.

6. Meryl Streep

Ms. Streep is considered to be one of the greatest actresses of our time. But before skyrocketing to fame she first pursued her education. She went to Vassar College, and then received an MFA from Yale. Even after becoming a leading lady she went on to study custome design at Dartmouth College.

7. Spike Lee

 

Considered one of the most successful Black directors in the world, Lee began his career with a student film will receiving a BA in mass communications from Morehouse University. Afterwords he attended the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where he completed a M.A. in film and television studies. He credits his education to his success, and believes it shaped him as a person.

8. Art Garfunkel

One half of the notorious Simon & Garfunkel., Art Garfunkel, has a Masters in mathematics from Columbia University. Everyone always says musicians are good at math.