GabrielFox's profile

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

Friday, December 30th, 2022 2:39 AM

Live Poll: Actresses with Academic Degrees

Some actresses complete a degree program in theater, while others majored in a field of study other than the dramatic arts prior to, parallel to, or after their acting achievements.

Which popular actress and their academic degree achievement impresses you more?

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls562041235/ 

https://www.imdb.com/poll/62eKjAA84P4/

466 Messages

 • 

4.9K Points

1 year ago

Danica McKellar, former star of The Wonder Years, has a degree in math:  "After that show ended, she went on to graduate Summa cum Laude from UCLA with a degree in Mathematics, and even proved a new math theorem, the Chayes-McKellar-Winn Theorem.:

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@TheOldJalapenoman​ Some people are amazing.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

1 year ago

@GabrielFox 

I think it could be a simpler and more accurate statement and question.

For your consideration,

Some actresses complete a degree program in theater, while others majored in a field of study other than the dramatic arts prior to, parallel to, or after their acting achievements.

Which popular actress and their academic degree achievement impresses you more?

(edited)

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ Done.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

@GabrielFox

I am surprised that ​Danica McKellar was not deemed worthy enough for inclusion.

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ Done.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

@GabrielFox​ Thanks

1.5K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

1 year ago

I'd probabbly vote for Mayim Bialik. 

Also, FYC: Elisabeth Shue graduated from Harvard in 2000 in Political Science

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@themoviesmith​ 

Good choice.

Thanks for the information.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

1 year ago

@GabrielFox​, I assume you are still working on this. The answer pool seems a bit light, as I assume there are more than fifteen popular actresses who have gotten college degrees.

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ 

In response to your comments:

1: Yes, I'm still working on this poll.

2: You assume right, there are more than 15 popular actresses who have academic degrees, however, I won't quote all of them, my list will be less than 20.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

@GabrielFox

Justine Bateman earned a degree in computer science and digital media management from UCLA in 2016. 

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ 

Thanks for the information, however I will not include her in the list, since she is not a popular actress as I indicated in the introduction.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

@GabrielFox​, what measure of popularity are you using, or is it completely subjective?

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ 

That's easy, in the last decade she acted in a movie and participated in a short film every 2 years.

She is not as popular as other actresses.

9.2K Messages

 • 

154.1K Points

@GabrielFox

So, its subjective and the standard of semi-retired or retired actress you cite for exclusion isn't being applied equally, since Emma Watson was included and she is an actress in the past tense.

(edited)

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@urbanemovies​ 

In the last decade, Emma Watson has acted in 8 movies, participated in 2 TV series and a short film. In addition, for her participation in the Harry Potter saga, she is internationally recognized, which by definition makes her popular.

Champion

 • 

13.9K Messages

 • 

324.7K Points

1 year ago

FYC:

Emma Thompson, English degree, Cambridge, 1980s

Rosamund Pike, English degree, Oxford, 2001

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@Peter_pbn​ Done.

Champion

 • 

18.9K Messages

 • 

471.6K Points

1 year ago

Congratulations, @GabrielFox!

Actresses with Academic Degrees

Live Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/62eKjAA84P4/

Please change "Poll Suggestion" to "Live Poll" in the discussion thread title and change the settings so that it appears under "Praise" now, rather than "Idea."

 

FAQ: Updating Threads After Poll Goes Live

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@dan_dassow​ Thanks.

12 Messages

 • 

204 Points

1 year ago

Meryl Streep -- she earned the degree, then she made an incredibly successful career out of it. She didn't already have something to leverage her way into Yale or Harvard to earn a degree after the fact. 

Sigourney Weaver was a strong consideration, but... I couldn't remember the start of her career specifically, & there was that Yale credential...(?) The same with Jodie Foster, except Doctor of Fine Arts in 1997... Does Yale offer a Doctorate Program? I don't know & Jodie Foster would be an actress a school would seek out to give an Honorary Doctorate...she would have already been a long established actress; why would she just halt her career to pursue a Doctorate? Maybe she did...(?)

And Natalie Portman...also another I considered. But, again, she was already established & her degree credit is from Harvard. The degree isn't quite so much film related, but I can see a connection. Also, being a child actress, it makes me wonder if the Parents couldn't have legally compelled her, whilst a child needing their consent, to continue on with her education on the chances she did not find further success as an actress. Did she earn the degree because she wanted the degree? Or, because she was legally obliged? That I have no idea, but it seems more than reasonable...

So, Meryl Streep got my vote; hands down.

As for the neuroscientist..., how does that translate into acting? & You can't point to Jeopardy! Because the announcement of her hosting the show received such a degree of disfavor for not instead selecting the much more apt & qualified LeVar Burton, it led to a panic so severe, her co-host was scrutinized & ousted as a racist. When LeVar Burton actually gave his opinion on the matter, he didn't even really have a desire to host the show. It was entirely fueled by uproar from fans, which was eventually quelled by LeVar Burton's remarks & Ken Jennings agreeing to come back & fill the role of co-host. If...& I don't even know her name...? If she had been accepted as the definitive host of Jeopardy! Then there might be something to consider there. Otherwise, how has she applied neuroscience to acting & filmmaking? What has her career even consisted of...? Who is she?! What's her name for God's sake?!

  

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@Omikron777​ 

Mayim Bialik was accepted to both Harvard and Yale, but turned them down to attend UCLA. She was awarded her Bachelor's degree in 2000 and began reading for a PhD in Neuroscience (studying Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome) which she eventually completed in 2007. She worked as an actress throughout her studies and was a regular on US TV screens, becoming a Prime Time face again in 2010 when she began her regular appearances in the hit series The Big Bang Theory (2007).

12 Messages

 • 

204 Points

@GabrielFox​ - Mayim Bialik -- Yes! I cannot remember her name - trying to remember it always leads me to Bakula, Blalock, ...& then my limited attention is out the window. & As for "...accepted to both Harvard & Yale, but turned them both down to attend UCLA" -- I mean, a PhD is difficult & deserves recognition in its own right; & given the choice of the 3 schools, I'd turn down Harvard & Yale as well. Although, I imagine for very different reasons. As to why for me, it's not so relevant. But for Bialik! I gather it was a highly relevant choice. No one could or would ever try to guess my rationale; but Bialik's...? ... I can guess. That, combined with my Jeopardy nonsense & asking what she's even done & asking for her name...? Mayim Bialik...I just don't know...(?)

But! I voted for Meryl Streep. So, it's not really that big of a deal.  

1 Message

 • 

62 Points

11 months ago

Wow!! I haven't known about Lisa Kudrow. But I accidentally found out about Mayim Bialik a few months ago (she is my favorite character from The Big Ben Theory). I just got to her Instagram and realized she even has her kinda blog about neuroscience, just the same field as in the sitcom. As a fan, I was pleased! :) Why did I even get here, because I decided to check my assignment. I didn't know that I could find such information on your forum. For one of my homework, I needed a list of famous women (film and entertainment) with academic degrees. On the ResellerRatings website, I found this review https://www.resellerratings.com/store/Edubirdie_com on the Edubirdie service, which turned out to be quite popular (and fast). Therefore, I decided to trust it, and now that I have received the text, I want to read more about these women. Thank you very much for the additional information.

(edited)

2.2K Messages

 • 

35.1K Points

@AmyWest​ 

Sometimes people we thought we knew give us big surprises.