Natalie Portman went to Harvard!?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>This bombshell whos a famous actor and is gonna star in the upcoming Thor movie (woot! woot!) went to Harvard for undergrad? And she was a real good student who wrote letters to the Harvard Crimson or something?
Can someone explain how she got into acting/became famous? From the wikipedia I can only assume she acted throughout her education before Harvard sporadically, took a break during it, and then got back into it after it? Hows that possible when she graduated with a psychology major? Wouldnt she be looking for a job rather than acting positions?</p>

<p>edit: Correction : she FILMED the star wars movies DURING her time at Harvard.
Guys you realize this is the girl in V for Vendetta, Star Wars, and the upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film? This girl is a freaking genius amazing person! How did she do it all?</p>

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<p>Harvard takes amazing people. She fits right in.</p>

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<p>I know that but thats not really wat I was asking. See other questions</p>

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<p>It’s unusual, but it’s not unheard of for showbiz people to go to college AND pursue their careers. Jody Foster went to Yale, Brooke Shields went to Princeton, and Emma Watson is currently at Brown. Heck, Rivers Cuomo was a rock star recording albums and touring with his band at the same time he was a Harvard student.</p>

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<p>Renowned cellist Yoyo Ma, who was a child prodigy, was at Harvard while also pursuing his musical career.</p>

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<p>For whatever reason, it seems to be way more common for women to do than for men. To Natalie, Brooke, Emma, you can add Mira Sorvino (Harvard), Reese Witherspoon (Stanford), Julia Stiles (Columbia), Jennifer Beals (Yale). Those are just people who already had careers pre-college. Of course there are more who get famous afterwards.</p>

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<p>^^Add Claire Danes (Yale).</p>

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<p>Yes, she did. Harvard attracts the best youth and turns them into the best adults, simply put.</p>

<p>Or rather, brings out the best in them :)</p>

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<p>Mira Sorvino didn’t have a Hollywood career prior to college. Neither did Matt Damon (Harvard) or Elisabeth Shue (Harvard).</p>

<p>But Anna Paquin (Columbia), Fred Savage (Stanford), Sara Gilbert (Yale), Tatyana Ali (Harvard), Keisha Knight-Pulliam (Spelman), Danica McKellar (UCLA), and Mayim Biyalik (UCLA) all went to college after becoming famous.</p>

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<p>James Franco is just finishing up studying something at Columbia (undergraduate?) and is going to Yale for grad school next year as well.</p>

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<p>^Franco is finishing grad work in Columbia and is due to begin doctorate work in Yale this fall.</p>

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<p>The list of famous actors that attended Ivy League schools is expansive. Just as the list of world-renowned scientists that attended Ivy League schools is expansive, just as the list of politicians that attended Ivy League schools is expansive.</p>

<p>Ivy Leagues don’t look for just brains, but also passion and a pursuit for success in different things. For many, it was theater, acting, drama or what have you. For others its debate, art, science, or just about ANYTHING. It should surprise no one that famous actors have come out of Ivy League schools.</p>

<p>Would Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, MIT or whatever accept:</p>

<p>A) 2400, 4.0 with fairly mediocre ECs and essays. Who has passion for nothing, or took part in things that shows no individualism and character?</p>

<p>or </p>

<p>B) 2100, perhaps even a 2000+ student, 3.whatever GPA, but with zest for acting. Someone that cares about acting and pursues it passionately?</p>

<p>The choice is clear</p>

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<p>How can anyone forget Meryl Streep at Yale!!!</p>

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<p>Meryl Streep went to Yale’s graduate school for theater as did some other stars such as Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance.</p>

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<p>Yeah, counting the Yale Drama School wouldn’t be fair (although it’s very cool). Sigourney (then merely “Susan”) Weaver was in Streep’s class, too.</p>

<p>Bassett was an undergraduate at Yale as well, though.</p>