It takes some serious smarts to be accepted into an Ivy League school. For many of us, the study halls and libraries of places such as Harvard and Yale aren't exactly what we imagine when we think of all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but believe it or not, being a star on the big screen and in the classroom at the same time is totally possible. And in fact, you might be surprised to find that plenty of your favorite celebs have already done it.
Even though we see them on our televisions and in magazines every day, most of us know that just because a person is famous doesn't mean they're a great role model. For instance, these celebrities that committed terrible crimes set examples we would hope our own children never follow. However, plenty of other stars have made education popular by proving that it's possible to follow your dreams and go to college. And unlike these once-famous celebs who left Hollywood for good, a lot of famous Ivy League students managed to stay in showbiz while completing their degrees! Now that's dedication.
Check out these famous celebrities who got an Ivy League education and proved that stardom and smarts aren't mutually exclusive. Number 13 is one of my favorite actresses, but I would have never expected her to be on this list!
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1. Natalie Portman
The star of Black Swan and V for Vendetta obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard University in 2003.
2. Emma Watson
She made a name for herself playing the role of the super smart Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, but Emma Watson is also a brilliant woman in real life — she graduated from Brown University in 2014 with a degree in English literature.
3. John Legend
The award-winning singer/songwriter isn't just a brilliant musician. He also went to the University of Pennsylvania and studied English with a focus on African-American literature.
4. Mindy Kaling
It's not so surprising that the star, writer, and producer of The Mindy Project is so good at what she does when you know that she got a degree in playwriting from Dartmouth College in 2001.
5. Edward Norton
The Fight Club and American History X star got his degree in history from Yale University in 1991.
6. Meryl Streep
The iconic actress has starred in films such as Sophie's Choice and The Devil Wears Prada. She graduated from Vassar College, then went on to get her MFA from the Yale University School of Drama.
7. James Franco
Once a UCLA dropout, the Spider Man and Pineapple Express actor went on to receive numerous degrees from various schools, including an MFA from Columbia University. He's currently working on getting a PhD in English from Yale University.
8. Maggie Gyllenhaal
The woman who's worked in films such as The Dark Knight and Crazy Heart got her degree in literature and Eastern religions from Columbia University in 1999.
9. BJ Novak
The actor from The Office and Inglourious Basterds graduated from Harvard University in 2001.
10. Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs star got her degree in literature in 1984 from Yale University.
11. Anderson Cooper
The anchor for CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 graduated from Yale in 1989.
12. Brooke Shields
The Pretty Baby and Hannah Montana actress obtained her degree in French literature from Princeton University in 1987.
13. Elizabeth Banks
She might play the slightly ditzy Effie Trinket in the Hunger Games films, but Elizabeth Banks has some serious brains in real life. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, where she earned her degree in communications.
14. Tommy Lee Jones
The Men in Black and No Country for Old Men star graduated cum laude from Harvard, where he got his degree in English.
15. Rashida Jones
The Parks and Recreation actress earned her degree in religion and philosophy from Harvard University. She graduated in 1997.
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