Find out which stars from here and beyond were also looking forward to the month of September when they returned to school to study in fields as surprising as they were fascinating.
Natalie PortMan, Harvard graduate
Five years after Natalie Portman gained attention for her role in “The Professional” at the age of just 12, she began studying psychology at Harvard University. She completed her studies in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree.
In an interview with Independent in 2006, the actress admitted that her degree and contacts in the world of psychology particularly help her play a character struggling with mental health issues.
Jean-François Mercier, mathematical genius
Before Jean-François Mercier made a living with humor, he tried his luck in the field of actuarial science. Since he had a bachelor’s degree in the field, he quickly realized that he was not happy there and also had poor job prospects.
“I left university, had no job and was broke,” he said on Radio-Canada’s Grandes Entrevues in 2015. “I sold my car and used the money to enroll in school [nationale] of humor.”
John legend and literature
John Legend’s talents as a singer and pianist opened the doors to the University of Pennsylvania, one of the eight universities that make up the famous American Ivy League.
While in school, John Legend managed to obtain a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in African American literature, all with no less than an honorable mention.
Frédérick De Grandpré, philosopher
The actor and comedian Frédérick De Grandpré has been distinguishing himself for several years both on the small screen and in theaters throughout the province. At the age of 49, he decided to tap into his intellectual side and enroll in the philosophy certificate at the University of Laval.
As soon as he had this diploma in his pocket, as we see in the musical The Bodyguard, he registered for the Abitur, which he is currently completing.
In addition to his entertainment duties, Frédérick De Grandpré also gives lectures on philosophy for children and young people, aimed at “developing critical, creative and attentive thinking”.
Cole and Dylan Sprouse, twins graduating
In 2011, Cole and Dylan Sprouse, known for their roles in Zack and Cody’s Palace Life, decided to take a break from fame to study archeology and video game design at New York University.
Both graduated in 2015. Cole then stood out in the popular series Riverdale playing Jughead Jones.
Boucar Diouf, the pleasure of the stage through teaching
When Boucar Diouf set foot in Quebec in 1991, he was pursuing a doctorate in oceanography at the University of Quebec in Rimouski. After graduating and teaching in the biology department at his alma mater for eight years, he decided to make the leap into the entertainment industry.
“While cheerfully teaching biology, I discovered my passion for the stage and my irrepressible need to use humor as a teaching tool,” he says in the biography on his website.
Edward Norton learns history before he writes it
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from the prestigious Yale University in 1991, Edward Norton decided to pursue his acting career in 1994.
Before landing his first major role in the film Primal Fear (1996), the prolific actor worked as a consultant in Osaka, Japan, for his grandfather’s company, which was dedicated to creating affordable housing for low-income families.
Florence K, artist and doctoral student
Apparently everything Florence K touches turns to gold. In addition to an acclaimed music career, the singer-songwriter is currently working on completing her doctorate in psychology at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
Florence K struggles with mental health problems herself and published the book Buena vida in 2015, in which she speaks uncompromisingly about the lowest phase of her life.
Katherine Levac, French Literature in Ontario
Before Quebec fell for her easygoing charm, Franco-Ontarian comedian Katherine Levac deepened her repertoire of knowledge at the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree in French literatures and theater.
“Me, the creative courses in my bachelor’s degree in literature, I took them all and wanted more! I wanted to write so much,” she explained in an interview with the University of Ottawa, adding that this interest has served her well when writing her shows came.
Millie Bobby Brown wants to help her generation
At just 19 years old, actress Millie Bobby Brown, known for her role as Eleven in the series Stranger Things, decided to continue her education at Purdue University in Indiana. In 2022, she began a degree program in human services, which is similar to the social work degree program here.
“I consider myself privileged to have access to such education and I want to ensure that people of my generation also have access to it, even if they are not in an environment where they cannot easily access it,” explained she told the Chron last March.