Many people assume that celebrities, especially those in show business, only get to be famous because of their looks or through the support of influential family members. Often, they are not seen to be as smart or as hard-working as the average person. But these four celebrities have shown that they are more than their pretty faces by working hard to attain advanced levels of formal education.
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Shaquille O’neal
The NBA player with a larger-than-life personality was not only a force to reckon with on the basketball court, but one of the sharpest tools in the tool shed. The NBA champion is a holder of a doctorate degree in leadership and education from Barry University in Florida. According to the sports champ, the decision to pursue this high level of education was in fulfilment of a promise made to his mother. Being able to hold his own in conversations with other elites is an added advantage.
Mayim Bialik
One thing that The Big Bang Theory actress has in common with her scientist character, Amy, is a head for science. Bialik earned a PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2007. The Blossom star was all set to quit acting for a career in academia when she was offered the part on The BBT. Bialik hopes that her portrayal of a female scientist on TV will encourage more girls to pursue careers in the sciences.
Ken Jeong
Most actors will tell you the joy of acting is the ability to be someone else. For comedian Ken Jeong, he ditched his job as a medical doctor, a role most actors would love to play, to become a comedian. Jeong was a practising physician of internal medicine in California for many years before succumbing to his true calling, acting. He has since appeared in countless films and shows.
James Franco
This producer, director, comedian, writer and painter is not just an artistic genius but an accomplished scholar as well. Franco has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing, after pursuing various academic interests in areas such as filmmaking. He then went on to earn a doctorate degree in English from Yale University. The multi-talented actor has taught several film classes in high schools and universities alongside his acting.
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