Born in Mexico, Lupita started her career in the early 2000s, as part of the production crew for many major films. She went on to make her debut as an actress in the short film, “East River.” In 2009, she wrote, directed, and produced her own documentary about the albino population in Kenya. Shortly after, she enrolled in the Yale School of Drama and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts.
Lupita got her big-screen breakthrough shortly after graduating when she was cast in Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave.” She even won an Academy Award for her performance. Nyong’o went on to star in award-winning films after that, including two “Star Wars” movies, “Black Panther,” “Us,” and more. She’s talented, AND a genius!
Unknown - Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton is one of those rare actresses that come around every once in a blue moon. Her unique facial features and overall look, as well as her astounding acting skills, have made her a worldwide acting icon. She started out in the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984 and landed her first Hollywood role in "The Deep End," for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.
She's landed roles in many groundbreaking cinematic masterpieces, including several of the Coen Brother's films, "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "We Need to Talk About Kevin." But what's also impressive is this English lady's mind; she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, no less!
134 - Edward Norton
Norton is not only considered one of the best actors of the 21st century, but he is also incredibly smart. The three-time Academy Award-nominated actor graduated with a Bachelor's degree in history from Yale University. After an injury, he started to get interested in theater, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Norton moved to Japan shortly after graduating, where he learned Aikido and became fluent in Japanese! This genius has proved himself to be a consistently first-rate actor who impressed audiences and critics alike. He has graced our screens in masterpieces like "Primal Fear," "American History X," "Birdman," "Fight Club," and several of Wes Anderson's films.
Unknown - Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd has been a Hollywood sweetheart since her role in the 1990s "Ruby in Paradise." She continued to earn recognition as a high-profile actress with her performances in "Frida," and " A Time to Kill." Her most recent roles have been few and far between as she decided to focus on humanitarian efforts instead. We can only bow down.
Judd has a Bachelor's degree in French from the University of Kentucky, a Mid-Career Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. And as if managing three majors wasn't enough, Judd has been doing humanitarian work for more than a decade, mainly focusing on gender equality and the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls. She has also narrated three documentaries for the Youth AIDS group.
Unknown - Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly is not only one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, but she's also one of the smartest. She landed her first major role in Sergio Leone's 1980 masterpiece film, "Once Upon a Time in America." That was the jump start of what would become an incredibly successful career, acting in films like "Labyrinth," "Requiem for a Dream," "A Beautiful Mind," and countless others.
Connelly has won an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe, and has been nominated several times. What's more, this astounding lady studied drama at Yale and Stanford University, and she speaks Italian and French fluently!