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For anyone, knowing what you want to do for a career could be the only thing you’ve ever imagined. While for others, knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life might not be so clear. Whether you know what you want to do or not, for some, a logical first step is getting some form of education. Obtaining a degree in the field you want to enter would be the most linear option. And living in cities where specialisations are often valued higher in competitive job markets, it can seem starting your career with a degree related to your field is the safest bet. 

Au contraire, as is life, linearity is often thrown out the window. Ten years ago, we were told by our career advisors at school that the jobs of the future don’t exist yet. Now that we’re here, and with the introduction of AI, the jobs of the future are seemingly changing—so don’t box yourself in. 

For I can only speak for working as a fashion writer, being well-versed in different areas of interest and industries comes as a major plus when applying for jobs. Differentiating yourself because, say, you know a lot about film or are on the forefront of the next scientific breakthrough (my science illiteracy is really showing), knowing things in other fields outside of fashion will serve as an attractive edge. Fashion does not exist in a vacuum—you should know what else is happening in the world.

And for many of our favourite celebrities, this has served them well. Although your favourite actor didn’t study theatre, or your favourite writer didn’t earn a degree in literature, what they studied has, more often than not, beneficially served their current occupation in indirect ways.

Read on about the 20 celebrities with university degrees that are not at all related to their jobs.

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Gemma Chan (Law)

Although earning her law degree at Worcester College, Oxford, Gemma Chan always had a burgeoning passion for acting. Chan has said that her law degree has served her well when filming; when once she would have to memorise binder upon binder of legal documents, memorising scripts feels almost second nature.

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Rebel Wilson (Law)

Earning her double degree in Arts and Laws at Sydney’s University of New South Wales in 2009, Rebel Wilson is as quick with legal jargon as she is with a quip on screen.

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Jonah Hauer-King (Theology)

Having played Prince Eric in the live-action The Little Mermaid, Jonah Hauer-King earned his degree in theology and religious studies at St John’s College, Cambridge, whilst juggling stage and screen roles at the same time.

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Christy Turlington (Eastern Philosophy and Comparative Religion)

Going back to school in 1994 after taking a break from modelling, Christy Turlington attended New York University to study comparative religion and Eastern philosophy, graduating cum laude in 1999. Turlington will appear in the Apple TV+ docuseries The Super Models alongside her other supers Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford.

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Rashida Jones (Religion and Philosophy)

A Harvard alum of ’97, Rashida Jones studied religion and philosophy, as well as being heavily involved with the performing arts scene during her time in college.

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Rooney Mara (Psychology, International Social Policy and Non-profits)

Graduating in 2010 from New York University, Rooney Mara’s studies in non-profits comes from a strong family tradition of involvement in philanthropic causes.

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Natalie Portman (Psychology)

A psychology degree often serves an actor well. Natalie Portman, another Harvard alum, class of ’03, earned her Oscar for playing prima ballerina Nina in Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 Black Swan. No doubt her authority for exploring the interior lives of her characters is surely thanks to her psychology degree.

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Chris Martin (Greek and Latin)

Studying at the University College of London, Coldplay’s Chris Martin graduated with a degree in Ancient World Studies with first-class honours in Greek and Latin. Surely with being a songwriter, one must know the classics first.

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Tom Ford (Interior Architecture)

The American fashion designer studied Interior Architecture in New York’s Parsons School of Design a decade before splashing onto the fashion scene as Gucci’s creative director in 1994. His sculptural tailoring and precise cuts are no doubt the eye and work of an architect–because what is fashion but sculpture in motion?

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Miuccia Prada (PhD in Political Science)

That’s Dr. Prada to you. As a bid to breakaway from her family’s Milanese luggage business, Prada pursued political science in her studies. Of course, going on to become one of the greatest designers behind Prada and Miu Miu. However, shortly after earning her doctorate, Prada studied to be a mime at Piccolo Teatro (let that imagery sit with you).

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Diane von Fürstenberg (Economics)

The fashion designer who popularised the wrap dress in the ’70s for the working woman, Diane von Fürstenberg studied economics at the University of Geneva.

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Kourtney Kardashian (Theatre)

All the world’s a stage when you’re a Kardashian, no? The eldest Kardashian sister earned her degree in theatre arts at the University of Arizona just before her family’s catapult into the public eye.

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Dakota Fanning (Women’s Studies)

Graduating in 2016 from New York University with a degree in Women’s Studies, Dakota Fanning still continued acting on the side whilst completing her degree. It must have been very cool to have her as a classmate.

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Issa Rae (African-American Studies)

Playing President Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Issa Rae graduated in 2007 from Stanford University with a degree in African and African-American Studies.

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Eddie Redmayne (History of Art)

Much like Stephen Hawking, for whom he won an Academy Award for portraying in The Theory of Everything, Eddie Redmayne graduated from Cambridge University after studying History of Art. Redmayne wrote his final dissertation on International Klein Blue, the intoxicating shade of blumarine made by mid-century French artist Yves Klein.

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Riz Ahmed (Philosophy, Politics, Economics)

Graduating from Oxford University with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics, Riz Ahmed also made it a point during his studies to host parties that celebrated diverse cultures, a step away from the “elite, white and black-tie” culture at Oxford.

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Jodie Foster (African-American Literature)

The intellect of Jodie Foster is unimpeachable. Studying African-American literature at Yale, and graduating magna cum laude in 1985, Foster wrote her thesis on writer Toni Morrison.

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Hugh Jackman (Communications)

After taking a gap year to be a PE teacher in England, Hugh Jackman graduated in 1991 with a degree in communications at the University of Technology Sydney–one of the first graduating classes from the university.

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Sigourney Weaver (Literature)

It was during her studies in literature at Stanford that Sigourney Weaver realised her true calling to acting, to which she followed that up immediately with an MFA in drama from Yale.

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Eva Longoria (Kinesiology)

And to the most surprising on the list to her present occupation, Eva Longoria earned her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University.

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