The world, today, is full of stereotypes. Everyone likes to give a label to others, categorizing them based on their looks, profession or hobbies. Being judged is a common part of a person’s everyday life. Women, with their accelerating presence in everything that was once considered a man’s job, are the subject of the majority of such stereotypes.
It is a taken that a woman who is an actress or a model is beautiful. With this theory follows the common deduction that these women are dumb. So, here are the names of some women whom the world only appreciates for their fair skin and luscious lips or great body, and silently thwarts as dumb. Have a look at 10 Not-So-Dumb Hollywood celebrities!
1. Hedy Lamarr
This Austrian actress was one of the most glamorous faces of her time. ‘The Ecstasy lady’ was seen in films like White Cargo, The Conspirators and many more, which were later recognized as all-time classics. But, what most people do not know about Hedy ‘Delilah’ Lamarr is that she was an inventor. In fact, without her, the wireless data communication that human beings around the world are dependent on would not have been possible.
Working alongside George Antheil, she developed the technology of “frequency hopping” and spread spectrum, which posed to be of immense importance to the national government. They devised a contraption to synchronize radio signals. So, the next time you use your Wi Fi or mobile internet, do not forget to thank this pretty lady.
2. Natalie Portman
The little girl from Leon: The Professional grew up to astound the world with her critically acclaimed role in the Black Swan. But, given a choice between a life as an actress and a life as a smart and educated lady, she chooses the latter! She is, in fact, a graduate from Harvard University: She has an A.B. degree in psychology.
During her school years, she co-authored a research paper on “A Simple Method to Demonstrate the Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen from Sugar” with Jonathan Woodward and Ian Hurley, which was eligible to enter the Intel Science Talent Search. During her psychology studies, she made major contributions to a study on memory involving Spectroscopy and activation of frontal lobe.
3. Lisa Kudrow
Everyone who has a thing for television soaps has watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and knows Lisa Kudrow for portraying the role of Phoebe Buffay. Who doesn’t love her Phoebe? She is random, she is crazy, she is drop-dead gorgeous. Lisa bagged the Emmy for this role. She has also received accolades for her other performances and works, and her contribution to the entertainment industry is undeniable.
But, did you know that this pretty blonde graduated with a degree in biology and was on the verge of publishing her research on headache types and hemispheric dominance when Friends happened? The world of television thanks her for her choice, of course!
4. Mayim Bialik
In The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik plays the role of Amy Farah Fowler, the love interest of Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a crazy scientist, who was won over by her intelligence. Sure enough, Amy is a neurobiologist. If some other actress had played this role, it could be quite possible that she never heard the name of the specialization before. But not this lady. Mayim has a Ph.D in neuroscience. She specializes in OCD in adolescents who have Prader-Willi syndrome. That’s not all: she even studied Hebrew/Jewish at UCLA.
5. Meryl Streep
Many people in the entertainment business say that they chanced upon the career by accident, and discovered their hidden talent in due course of time at Hollywood. Not Meryl Streep: her acting career began while she was pursuing her B.A. in no other subject but Drama. Later, she went and got herself a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. So, the next time you watch one of her films and get blown over by her timeless beauty and her ability to have visceral impact, remember that she is armed by the power of knowledge to enhance her talent.
6. Jodie Foster
“The Accused” Academy Award winner, Jodie Foster, well known for her roles in some of the most well-known Hollywood movies like The Silence of the Lambs, Panic Room, Flightplan etc., and has a bagful of BAFTA, Golden Globe and many other awards. She started acting at a very early age, but, never gave up on her education. After passing from LycéeFrançais de Los Angeles, she attended Yale and graduated as an upper-level French scholar, before returning to her acting career.
7. Brooke Shields
Child actress and supermodel, Brooke Shields, breaks the major kind of stereotypes about dumb models. In between modelling and appearing on the cover of Vogue as the youngest model to ever do so, she found herself the time to graduate from the Princeton University in French Literature. So, next time you think that all models are dumb, please think again.
8. Lucy Liu
Well-known for her role as one of the Angels of Charlie, Lucy’s face reminds everyone what a perfect balance she is of beauty and strength, as the images of her landing kicks and punches on the goons in the movie flash in our memories. What people do not probably know is that, Lucy completed her B.Sc. in Asian Languages and Cultures. The actress is fluent in 5 different languages.
9. Ashley Judd
Before embarking upon a rewarding career in acting, Ashley Judd of Norma Jean & Marylin fame was busy majoring in French. In fact, when most struggle to handle a single minor, she minored in 4 subjects: women’s studies, theatre, art history and anthropology. Later, she also went and got herself a mid-career one year master’s degree in Public Administration.
10. Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer has been the first choice for films of great depth and complexities, like Blood Diamond or A Beautiful Mind. She has also been the target of designers who have wanted her to model for them. What makes her the perfect blend of beauty, talent and brain is the fact that she has a Bachelor’s degree from the Stanford University.
So, the next time you look at any of these ladies who have made themselves a place in the entertainment industry, or some of the others out there, and think that they are nothing but beauty, remember that there is much more beneath the superficial layer.
