What Famous Actors Studied Before They Made It Big

Hollywood may be full of glam and glitter now, but many actors didn’t start with dreams of red carpets.

Some were science majors, others studied law or literature, and a few didn’t even study acting at all. Before they were household names, they sat in classrooms just like any other student grappling with essays and exams.

That academic path isn’t always what fans expect. For students pursuing coursework with paper writers for college and following their creative dreams, it’s a reminder that success doesn’t require following a single straight path.

Here’s a closer look at what some of today’s biggest stars studied before stepping into the spotlight.

Natalie Portman – Psychology at Harvard

Natalie Portman was already known for her role in Star Wars when she started her psychology degree at Harvard. Unlike many child stars who dropped out or put education on hold, Portman went all-in on academics. She even contributed to a scientific paper during her time there.

In interviews, she’s said that studying psychology helped her understand her characters more deeply.

Ken Jeong – Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill

Before he made audiences laugh in The Hangover and Community, Ken Jeong was a licensed physician. He earned his M.D. from the University of North Carolina and even completed his residency. Comedy started as a side hustle during medical school.

Eventually, it became his main gig. Jeong has credited his medical background with giving him structure and resilience.

Emma Watson – English Literature at Brown

Emma Watson had the world’s attention thanks to Harry Potter, but she chose to keep her academic life steady. She studied English literature at Brown University and even took a year abroad at Oxford.

Watson once said that school gave her a sense of control and grounding while growing up in the spotlight. For students navigating fame or pressure, her story shows how pursuing education can add depth and direction.

Bradley Cooper – English and French at Georgetown

Before becoming a two-time Oscar-nominated actor, Bradley Cooper majored in English at Georgetown University. He also learned French and even studied abroad in France.

Cooper has said that his love for language helped him connect with scripts in a more personal way. That literary background likely contributed to his later success directing A Star Is Born, a project where every word and line mattered.

Mayim Bialik – Neuroscience at UCLA

It’s no surprise that Mayim Bialik played a neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory. She actually is one. Bialik earned a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA after earlier fame as a teen actor in Blossom.

She returned to acting not just for the paycheck but because she missed the creativity. Her academic work focused on hormones and behavior, and she remains a strong advocate for science literacy today.

Denzel Washington – Journalism at Fordham

Denzel Washington didn’t always know he wanted to be an actor. At Fordham University, he studied journalism and played basketball. It wasn’t until a college play that he got hooked on acting.

Washington later said that understanding storytelling from a journalist’s perspective helped him deliver more compelling and honest performances.

Mark Bradford, an education expert from the essay writing service EssayHub, explained that stories like Washington’s aren’t rare. “Many actors didn’t train in film at all,” he noted. “What they learned, whether in psychology or literature, often gave them a richer foundation for their roles.”

John Krasinski – English at Brown

Before charming the world as Jim on The Office, John Krasinski was an English major at Brown. He originally considered a career in teaching or writing.

His time at Brown helped him discover a love for storytelling and gave him space to explore performance. Krasinski still writes and directs today, and credits his liberal arts education for broadening his creative scope.

Conclusion

Many of today’s most beloved actors didn’t sprint straight into acting school. They explored literature, medicine, journalism, and beyond. Some had backup plans. Others simply followed curiosity until art found them. Their stories remind us that your major isn’t your destiny. It’s one tool in a much bigger kit.

So if you’re sitting in class wondering if your philosophy paper or chemistry exam will ever matter, think of it this way: you might not be aiming for Hollywood, but the skills you’re building, such as discipline, analysis, and empathy, can take you further than you think.