Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and More Who Didn’t Let Lacking a High School Diploma Derail Their Success

Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Others Who Succeeded Without a High School Diploma

Several celebrities have achieved impressive success despite not completing high school. Jeremy Allen White, star of The Bear, recently shared a touching story about an old teacher who surprised him at the New York City premiere of his film Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

On the October 23 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, White explained his struggles with school attendance at the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City, where he never graduated. After the screening, his teacher gave him a special gift:

“I wasn’t a good student because I didn’t go to school enough. And I was like, ‘Ah, you don’t have to do this, this is crazy, what are you giving me a gift for?’ And I open it up, and it is my high school diploma. So… at 34 years old, I graduated high school!”

Nicole Kidman, with two Oscars to her name, also regrets leaving school early. At 51, she openly admitted on 60 Minutes that she is a high school dropout, a fact she isn't proud of. She fondly remembers some of her teachers who supported her, but by age 15, her focus shifted to pursuing an acting career, prompting her move to Los Angeles.

“I’m a high school dropout, which I’m not proud to say. I had some teachers that I still think of fondly and were amazing to me.”

These stories highlight that success does not always follow traditional educational paths.

Author's summary: Many famous actors, including Jeremy Allen White and Nicole Kidman, overcame the lack of a high school diploma to build thriving careers in entertainment, proving that formal education is not the only path to success.

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Star Magazine Star Magazine — 2025-11-06

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