Diving into entertainment is very risky, which is why many of your favorite celebrities once went to college to formulate a back-up plan. Whether they planned on fighting on the stand with their law degree or staying behind the scenes with an English degree, these famous faces once walked around on college campuses. Do you know these celebs brainy backgrounds?

Steve Carell- History

Who knew he had an interest in bones apart from a funnybone? Steve Carell is one of the biggest names in comedy, but once upon a time, he studied history at Denison College. While there, he had his own radio show where he used the stage name "Sapphire Steve Carell." He also joined the school's improv troupe. He moved to Chicago after graduating to pursue comedy. 

Mindy Kaling- Playwriting

Whether you recognize her as Kelly from The Office or Dr. Lahiri from The Mindy Project, chances are you don't recognize Kaling from the stage. Though she had a few majors throughout her time at Dartmouth College such as Latin and Classics, she eventually settled on playwriting. She wrote one mildly successful play called Matt & Ben before getting her start writing (and eventually acting) on The Office. 

Ashton Kutcher- Biochemical Engineering

Ashton Kutcher was discovered at his college bar by a modeling scout, but if things had gone a different way, he was planning on a career in biomedical engineering. He had hoped to assist medical professionals in finding a cure for his brother's painful heart disease but got sidetracked on the road to fame. He received his degree from the University of Iowa in 1996. 

Rebel Wilson- Law

Before she played Fat Amy on Pitch Perfect, Rebel Wilson earned her Law degree from the University of New South Wales. She said in an interview with Seth Meyers "A lot of people look at me and think I’m stupid, but no. I graduated from a school that’s kind of like the Harvard of Australia." She started acting almost immediately after graduating but used her degree to negotiate a better contract for herself and her costars. 

Lisa Kudrow- Biology

This Friends star isn't just a singer-songwriter of "Smelly Cat". She's also a biologist! Her father was a physician and researcher, so she was planning on following in his footsteps if acting didn't work out. She received her degree at Vassar College and worked on her father's research team studying headaches in patients. Thankfully, she found a role as "Phoebe" instead. 

Ken Jeong- Medicine

Before he was an actor jumping out of a trunk naked in The Hangover, Ken Jeong was an actual medical doctor. He earned his degree in 1995 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He practiced for several years but has since devoted himself fully to the big screen. Honestly, it was probably the better choice at the end of the day.

Natalie Portman- Psychology

Natalie Portman isn't just another pretty face, and she made sure everyone knew it when she went back to school and got a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard University. "I felt like there had been some mistake...that I wasn’t smart enough to be in this company, and that every time I opened my mouth I would have to prove that I wasn’t just a dumb actress," she once said. 

Will Ferrell- Sports Information

Will Ferrell might be the funny man on campus, but that didn't stop him from earning a Bachelor's degree in Sports Information from the University of Southern California. He also received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from the same school in 2017. As Ferrell once joked, "Sports Information: a program so difficult, so arduous, that they discontinued it eight years after I left."

Alison Williams- English and Archaeology

Before she made her big debut as Marnie on Girls, Alison Williams couldn't even land a part in her school play. To be fair though, that school was the very elite Yale University. She joined the improv troupe her freshman year and discovered that while she was destined for the stage, she wasn't a musician, but she had a hidden talent for comedy. Good for you, Alison! 

Sacha Baron Cohen- History

Though he's known for his roles as dumb characters like Borat, this man actually graduated from one of the top universities in the world. London-born Cohen actually received his History degree from Cambridge University in England. He was also involved in the school's drama society. It's hard to imagine this comedic character as serious, but he has the papers to prove it. 

Mayim Bialik- Neuroscience

Talk about getting into character! Known for playing the brainy and awkward Amy on the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik actually got her doctorate in the field of Neuroscience. Though she still acts on the show, she also stays involved in the sciences by publishing books and studies on parenting and puberty from a neurological perspective. That's some serious dedication. 

Carrie Underwood- Mass Communications

She's known for her powerhouse vocals and moving country ballads, but this singer has been reaching wide audiences ever since her college days at Northeastern State University. Although she earned success on American Idol, Carrie was only three credits shy of earning her degree for good. She went back for her degree in Mass Communications with a focus in Journalism, graduating magna cum laude. 

David Duchovny- English Literature

David Duchovny has been in shows like The X Files, Californication, and more. However, he has an English Literature Bachelor's degree from Princeton and a Master's degree from Yale just in case the acting thing doesn't work out. "I thought, ‘Well, if I’m going to write things that are going to be performed by actors, then it’s probably helpful for me to know something about what that’s like," he later recalled. 

Bradley Cooper- English

Though it seems impossible to imagine Bradley Cooper outside of the big screen, he actually was once a student at Georgetown University studying English. He wrote his senior thesis on Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita and claims to have cried tears reading Romeo and Juliet. He also has strong opinions on the story Paradise Lost, even recalling it in an interview with GQ. 

JK Rowling- French

You might assume that one of the most successful authors of all time, JK Rowling, would have a degree in English, but you'd be wrong. The creator of Harry Potter actually has a French degree from the University of Exeter, also learning about Greek and Roman Studies during her time there. Though she wanted a different degree, she says that her French lessons were "A compromise that, in retrospect, satisfied nobody."

Danai Gurira- Social Psychology

Before defeating zombies on The Walking Dead, impressing audiences in Black Panther, or intimidating viewers in Avengers, Danai Gurira was a student at Macalester College in Minnesota. She told Rolling Stone, "I was really looking at race, population, gender and how we psychologically function in a way that affects our societal outcomes around those issues." Impressive!

James Franco- Fine Arts

Known for roles in films like Pineapple Express and The End as the lovable stoner, James Franco in real life has a Masters in Fine Arts from Yale University after getting his Bachelor's at columbia. When asked about why he chose to continue school while he was already a successful actor, Franco said "I go to school because I love being around people who are interested in what I'm interested in." 

Brian May- Astrophysics

Who knew that Brian May of the famous band Queen had such a brain? The rock and roll legend got his Bachelor of Science in Physics in the 1970s. He also graduated with honors. He went back to school in 2007 at the Imperial College London to earn his Ph. D. in Astrophysics. His thesis for the doctorate was on the motions of interplanetary dust, of course. 

Lionel Ritchie- Economics

Music legend Lionel Ritchie earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from the Tuskegee Institute in 1974. While receiving his education, he met musicians who would become friends and later, members of his first band, the Commodores. He stopped schooling while the group went on tour, but he returned eventually to finish up his final education credits. 

Gene Simmons- Education

Having Gene Simmons as your substitute teacher seems like a strange dream, but it could have been a reality. KISS frontman Gene Simmons got an Associate Degree from Sullivan County Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Richmond College in 1970. He taught sixth grade for a few years before forming the band that made him famous. 

Rooney Mara- Psychology, International Social Policy, and Nonprofits

Talk about being able to have it all! Graduating from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study from New York University in 2010, Rooney Mara got her Bachelor's degree in several different areas of study. The program allowed students to design their own major, so she picked anything that stimulated her interest before becoming a successful actress. 

Weird Al- Architecture

The man with the accordion might make a lot of silly songs, but he's got a brain on him too. He graduated from the California Polytechnic State University with a B.A. in Architecture but quit the field shortly after graduating. He instead opted to work at a radio company in Culver City and write music in his free time. Eventually, this music gained quite a quirky following...

Rashida Jones- Religion and Philosophy

Rashida Jones is an actress best known for her roles in The Office and Parks and Rec, but she's got a serious side too. She attended Harvard University, receiving her bachelor's in religion and philosophy. She initially wanted to study law, but after following the O.J. Simpson trial, she became disillusioned by the practice and switched her focus to acting instead. 

Freddie Highmore- Arabic and Spanish

He might be a successful English actor these days, but between his years as a child star and his adulthood career, Highmore learned how to speak Arabic and Spanish fluently by studying the languages in college. He earned dual degrees from Emmanuel College in Cambridge. He graduated with first-class honors and has stated that he's happy he went for his degree. 

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita is one of the most recognizable actresses in the film industry right now, but she was once just another student at Hampshire College. There, she studied film and theater. She worked as a production assistant for a few years before returning to school. She pursued a master's in acting from the Yale University School of Drama. Upon graduation, she was cast in her first big role in 12 Years a Slave.

Eva Longoria- Chicano Studies

California State University, Northridge gave this beautiful actress her degree in 2013. She earned her Master's from the school but attended Texas A&M University for undergrad. There, she studied Kinesiology, which is also what her master's degree is in. When receiving her final degree, she happily exclaimed: "You're never too old or too busy to continue your education!" 

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch just sounds like a smart name, doesn't it? This actor studied acting at the University of Manchester and went on to get an M.A.in Classical Acting from the London Academic of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his career exclusively on the stage but eventually found that acting in any capacity gave him joy. Shortly after, he was cast as Sherlock in a show of the same name. 

Sigourney Weaver- English

Weaver is way smarter than many people realize, earning her bachelor's in English from Stanford University in 1972. She also earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University's drama school only two years later. It was here that she appeared in a production of The Frogs alongside Meryl Streep. The two appeared as the mob of soldiers, but have gotten much more impressive roles since. 

Forest Whitaker- Opera

Who saw this coming? The actor Forest Whitaker has led quite a life, but one of the lesser-known facets of his life was his beautiful voice. He received a football scholarship to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. However, after a back injury ended his career, he dedicated himself fully to singing. He studied opera as a tenor and toured England with the Cal Poly Chamber Singers. Wow! 

Gabrielle Union- Sociology

At the University of California in Los Angeles, Gabrielle Union earned her Bachelor of Science degree for the study of Sociology. She was originally planning on a career in law after undergrad but got a gig modeling during her senior year. Once her look started gaining her some serious fame, she decided to go into modeling full time, which eventually led to acting. 

Wanda Sykes- Marketing

When she's not making people laugh on the stage, she might be making PR moves behind the scenes. Wanda Sykes earned her degree in Marketing in 1986 from Hampton University. She worked as a contract specialist for the NSA after graduation. Only one year later though, she tried her hand at stand-up comedy and found her true passion. She left the field for entertainment. 

David Spade- Business

David Spade doesn't exactly give off the vibe of a serious business person, but he graduated from Arizona State University in 1986 with a Bachelor's in Business. By then though, he had already started performing at some stand-up venues and was making people laugh on and off-campus. Eventually, though, comedy beat out business and became his full-time job.

Ron Jeremy- Special Education

Adult film star Ron Jeremy didn't always dream of a career revealing it all in front of the lens. Instead, he studied at Queens College, earning a Master's of Education degree with a focus special education. Sadly, the money from this job path wasn't enough to keep him afloat, so he turned to adult acting and found a place on the screen. Talk about a change in your career!

Chris Martin- Latin and Greek

Before he was leading crowds of stadiums to sing "Fix You", the Coldplay frontman was just a lowly student at the University College London. He balanced school and music all four years, eventually graduating with a first-class honors degree in Ancient Latin and Greek Studies. He managed his music career throughout, which turned out to be how he made his mark. 

Rowan Atkinson- Electrical Engineering

Some actors are known for dumb characters, like Atkinson's Mr. Bean, but usually have a secret smart streak. Such is the case with Rowan, who received his Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering from Queen's College in Oxford. He began performing when he was still in school and left his boring life behind to pursue acting. He has been on the big screen ever since. 

John Cleese- Law

If Monty Python didn't have the success it did, then John Cleese would have become a lawyer. At Downing College, Cambridge, Cleese earned his Bachelor's in Law. However, he also formed a theater troupe at this time with friend and writing partner Graham Chapman. The two discovered how funny they were together, and the rest, as they say, is history...

Vinny Guadagnino- Political Science

Vinny always had a reputation for being the smartest one on Jersey Shore, but no one knew it was to this extent. The star went to the College of Staten Island to earn his B.A. in Political Science. He even graduated with a 3.9 GPA. Despite these impressive statistics, he has also said he got his "Master's in womenry" so maybe being the smartest on a reality TV show isn't worth a lot...

Arnold Schwarzenegger- International Business and Economics

Everyone thought it was crazy that Arnold Schwarzenegger became the governor of California, but he actually had a better background than anyone even realized. The Terminator himself received a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, which helped him a lot later in life, just not in acting. 

Hugh Laurie- Anthropology and Archaeology

Selwyn College, Cambridge can boast that Hugh Laurie ranks among their notable alumni. He received a B.A. in Archeology and Anthropology with a specific concentration in social anthropology. He originally wanted to dive right into acting, but his family insisted on his education being his priority. Once he graduated, he went almost immediately to Hollywood...

Aziz Ansari- Business and Biology

If this pairing seems strange to you, don't worry, it seemed weird to him too. At New York University, Ansari studied Business and Biology, leading him to joke in his act, "What was I gonna do with this stupid double major?! Sell organs on the black market very efficiently?" Eventually, though, he settled on a Marketing major but hasn't used it since starting stand-up. 

Ben McKenzie- Economics and Foreign Affairs

Best known for his roles on Gotham and The O.C, this star attended the prestigious University of Virginia. Once there, he graduated in 2001 with a degree in Economics and Foreign Affairs. Since his commercial success, he's remained a big fan of UVA, saying "I’m not sure I would have had the opportunity to receive such a well-rounded education anywhere else." 

Kourtney Kardashian- Theatre Arts

They say reality TV contains almost no reality, and no one can play to that better than Kourtney Kardashian. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She spent two years there before transferring to the University of Arizona. She graduated from Arizona with a degree in Theater Arts and a minor in Spanish. She dropped it all once their show took off... 

J. Cole- Communications

J.Cole was once known in the classroom as Jermaine Cole. He attended St. Johns University in New York while pursuing music on the side. He was president of the Black Student Union and graduated in 2007 summa cum laude, majoring in communications. However, he didn't get a degree until 2015 because he never returned a library book! It was well worth the wait... 

John Legend- English

The University of Pennsylvania gave music icon John Legend his English degree back in 1999. He also had a concentration in African American literature. He started his schooling there at age 16 and joined the acapella group. This man is not just another pretty face or beautiful voice, but it seems he was always above the rest. That's pretty unbelievable... 

Dr. Oz- Cardiothoracic Surgeon

While most television doctors are just actors, Dr. Oz is actually so much more. Not only did he graduate from Harvard (where he played football) with a degree in Biology, but he also earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania. He was class president while at Penn and student body president during medical school. Wow, that's pretty impressive a TV host... 

Conan O'Brien- History and Literature

Though he acts like a goof on TV, Conan is actually a Harvard graduate. While at the prestigious institution, celebrity funnyman Conan wrote his thesis about the use of children as symbols in the works of Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner. He was also president of The Harvard Lampoon comedy publication and graduated magna cum laude. Impressive!

Harry Hill- Nueroscience

Comedian Harry Hill might seem like a jokester, but he can be very serious when he needs to be. He earned his degree at the University of London but left the neuroscience field because he "didn't feel in control of what was happening. He got his big break in comedy at age 28 in 1992, but he's still listed as a medical practitioner in England. Can you believe that?

Leonard Nimoy- Drama

Nimoy was a staple to Star Trek fans, but he didn't start out in outer space. Instead, he attended Boston College taking drama classes. Following this, he became disillusioned with acting as a whole and joined the army while he found his way. He served for 18 months, eventually leaving as a sergeant. While overseas, he acted in plays and skits for other troops. 

Mara Wilson- Creative Writing

All child stars must grow up, and such is the case for Mara Wilson. The former child celebrity played the titular character in Matilda, Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street, and Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire. As an adult though, she attended New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied creative writing. She's written several books since. 

Gerard Butler- Law

Attending the University of Glasglow's School of Law, Gerard Butler was the president of the college's law society. He has since stated that he "kind of blagged [his] way into" the position. He took a year off from school after his father's death and lived in Venice, California. He returned to school to finish up, but later returned to the West Coast for acting. 

Dwayne Johnson- Criminology

Though he is primarily known as an actor, at one point, Johnson was known as a football player for the University of Miami, receiving a full scholarship for his playing. He studied criminology and physiology. His football career failed after he was cut from the Calgary Stampeders, but then he tried professional wrestling. This eventually led to his very profitable acting career...

Brooke Shields- French Literature

Brooke Shields is considered one of the most beautiful women alive, but she's also got brains. She attended Princeton University to earn her degree in French Literature. Her senior thesis was titled "The Initiation: From Innocence to Experience: The Pre-Adolescent/Adolescent Journey in the Films of Louis Malle, Pretty Baby and Lacombe Lucien."

Danica McKellar- Mathematics

This Wonder Years star has a surprising educational history. The actress studied Mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles. She and another student cowrote a scientific paper entitled "Percolation and Gibbs states multiplicity for ferromagnetic Ashkin–Teller models on Z^2." She even has a theorem named after her and other members of her team. 

Shaquille O'Neal- Business

It's hard to imagine Shaq anywhere but on the court, but his original plan had been business. He studied at Louisiana State University. Though he was drafted into the NBA before graduating the university, Shaq continued to pursue his education even after his basketball career took off. Now that's the dedication that most people can only dream of...

Angela Basset- African American Studies and Fine Arts

Attending Yale University, the famed actress of films like How Stella Got Her Groove Back and What’s Love Got To Do With It, Bassett majored in African-American studies. She went on to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree from the same college, pursuing acting full time following graduation. While in the school, she also met future husband and fellow actor Courtney B. Vance.

Greg Graffin-Zoology

He might be the singer for the band Bad Religion, but he's certainly not bad at his job. After getting his bachelor's and master's at the University of California, Los Angeles, the musician went on to bigger things. He got his doctorate in Zoology from Cornell University. His dissertation was titled "Evolution and Religion: Questioning the Beliefs of the World's Eminent Evolutionists." He even went back to teach at UCLA between touring. 

Christy Turlington-

You might have seen her on magazine covers, but this model also could be seen in the library. She modeled professionally after high school but went back to college in 1994 to earn a degree from New York University. She majored in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy. She eventually continued her studies at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 

Ashley Judd- French, Anthropology, Art History, Theater, Women's Studies

Judd couldn't quite make up her mind while in school, so she picked one major and quite a few minors. She studied French all four years but dabbled in other course focuses throughout. She had also committed to joining the Peace Corps but dropped out of this prior to graduation so she could move to Hollywood and pursue acting while she was still young. 

Peter Weller- Renaissance Art

Robocop has more intelligence than anyone knew! Graduating from the University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University) the actor had a drama degree and a passion for the arts. He pursued a master's in Roman and Renaissance Art at Syracuse Unversity, and then a Ph. D. at UCLA. In both of these, he studied Italian Renaissance Art History, His dissertation was titled "Alberti Before Florence: Early Sources Informing Leon Battista Alberti’s De pictura."

Alan Page- Law

Alan Page is considered one of the best football players of all time, but even greatness needs a backup plan. Page earned his Law degree from the University of Minnesota after graduating from Notre Dame. After his football career ended, he had a successful career as a lawyer and was even eventually appointed to the position of Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Graham Chapman- Medicine

This king of comedy has a serious side. Attending Emmanuel College in Cambridge, the comedian studied medicine. He took some time off to tour with his comedy troupe, but eventually returned to St. Bartholomew's Medical College to earn his medical license. Though he never ended up practicing medicine professionally, he did play a lot of doctors in Monty Python! After all, laughter is really the best medicine. 

Art Garfunkel- Mathematics

Art Garfunkel pursued his graduate studies more dutifully than his co-writer, Paul Simon who dropped out of Law school. Instead, Art got his B.A. from Columbia University in the practice of art history. He also received his M.A. in mathematics from the same school. Despite being very popular by then, he continued to pursue his back-up degrees, just in case...

Dolph Lundgren- Chemical Engineering

The guy who killed Apollo Creed deserves more credit than anyone ever thought. Attending the Royal Institute of Technology in the 1980s, this actor earned a degree in chemical engineering. It was also around then that he got a black belt in karate and became a champion in the sport. Lundgren was a Fulbright scholar but left academics for acting at the urging of then-girlfriend Grace Jones.

Tom Scholz- Mechanical Engineering

IIf you know the band Boston, you know the work of guitarist Tom Scholz. His brain isn't just for good tunes though, he's also got a degree for mechanical engineering from one of the lead engineering institutions, MIT. There, he also earned a master's degree in the same subject. He worked as a senior product design engineer for Polaroid before his band took off for good. However, Scholz's son eventually earned the same degree from the same school.

Mike Marshall- Kinesiology

The Dodgers player might surprise you. He studied the subject of Kinesiology all the way from bachelor's up to earning a Ph. D. He says that his education allowed him to advise Tommy John to pursue the surgery that would eventually bear his name. He also believed that his knowledge helped him pitch in a way that avoided injury. Today, he educates other ballplayers on how kinesiology can help their game.