Other than great natural talent for acting, Cumberbatch is such a pro thanks to an M.A. he has in Classical Acting. He got this degree from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After receiving his degree, Cumberbatch started putting his skills to work, first in theater, then in film and TV.
Martha Stewart's Surprising Double Major
Martha Stewart, America's beloved homemaker, attended Barnard College of Columbia University. She originally planned to major in chemistry, but then switched to art history, and later to architectural history. She eventually graduated with a double major degree in History and Architectural History. Would you have ever guessed that?
This also may surprise you, to help pay her college tuition, she modeled for Chanel.
Tracee Ellis Ross Got an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Her Alma Mater
Two big names of the entertainment industry, Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silbersteinare are the people to be thanked for the woman we know and love, Tracee Ellis Ross. From Girlfriends to Black-ish, Ross always conquers the screen.
She attended Brown University, with a theatre degree, and in 2015 Ross was granted an Honorary Doctorate Degree from her alma mater, making her the youngest and only person of color chosen to receive this honor.
Leonard Nimoy Was an Avid Educator
Another studious sci-fi legend is none other than Leonard Nimoy, AKA Spock. His showbiz career includes acting, singing, directing, writing, and more, but he had an academic side too.
Nimoy studied for two years in order to complete his M.A. in Education at Antioch College. He was also given an Honorary Doctorate from the same establishment for activism in Holocaust remembrance, the environment, and the arts. Another Honorary Doctorate of human letters was given to him by Boston University.
Sigourney Weaver Has Mastered Fine Arts
A well known face among sci-fi fans, Sigourney Weaver has her roots deep in the academic world. She attended Sarah Lawrence College, and then went on to get a B.A. in English from Stanford University. Two years later, in 1974, Weaver got a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale.
It seems that Weaver would have kept going down that academic path if it wasn’t for Ridley Scott, who chose her to play the part of Ellen Ripley in his film Alien. That character, along with other sci-fi characters she has played, is what made her the unofficial first lady of sci-fi.