6 Celebrities Who Studied Medicine and Could’ve Easily Been Great Doctors

Sometimes life throws wonderful surprises at us, and these 6 celebrities are living proof. Several years ago, they thought they would work in hospitals helping other people, but then, all of a sudden, things turned upside down. Now they’re smiling at cameras and posing on the red carpet — who would’ve ever thought?

1. Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman studied at Harvard University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Portman even collaborated with other scientists while writing a scientific paper about the neuroscience of child development. However, she used her real name, Natalie Hershlag. The actress confesses to using her psychology background all the time, like, for instance, while reading scripts.

2. Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow studied biology in college and later worked with her father for a few years. He worked as a headache specialist, and Kudrow collaborated with him on a study about hemispheric dominance and headache types. She was thinking about trying acting, but the career didn’t seem serious enough for her. Even so, her older brother, David, encouraged her to pursue her dream and give it a try.

3. Ken Jeong

Occasionally, Ken Jeong would participate in open-mic comedy shows while studying medicine. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a physician of internal medicine for several years. Once, he even helped a woman who suffered a seizure during his stand-up show.

4. Mayim Bialik

The actress is well-known for playing Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory. Interestingly, just like her character, Mayim Bialik actually has a medical degree, not in neurobiology though, but in neuroscience. She even wrote a book on the science of hormones involved in parent-child bonding. Such a smart cookie!

5. Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and got a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, the study of human body movement. She was also interested in show business and even wanted to be a model. Nevertheless, she actively uses her knowledge to create good lifestyle choices. She says, “I don’t follow any fads or diets, but I know what my body reacts to. I just live a healthy lifestyle and don’t do anything in excess.”

6. Dwayne Johnson

In 1995, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor of general studies degree in criminology and physiology. This is the study of how the body works, responds, and adapts to different circumstances. Perhaps that’s what helped him turn into a professional wrestler.

Does your career match your major? Why did you choose it?