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

Celebrities Who Succeeded Without a High School Diploma

Several famous individuals have achieved great success despite not having a high school diploma.

Jeremy Allen White’s Story

The star of The Bear recently shared a heartfelt moment involving an old teacher at the New York City premiere of his movie Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. He admitted that he was not a good student because he didn’t attend school regularly and never graduated from the city’s Professional Performing Arts School.

“I wasn’t a good student because I didn’t go to school enough.”

After the film screening, his teacher gave him a gift—his high school diploma. He expressed surprise and gratitude, saying,

“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’s Educational Journey

Though she has won two Oscars, 51-year-old Nicole Kidman shared her regret about leaving school early. On 60 Minutes, she explained her feelings about being a high school dropout while recalling fond memories of some inspiring teachers.

“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.”

By the age of 15, she was determined to pursue acting and moved to Los Angeles to follow her dreams.

Summary

These stories reveal that not having a traditional high school diploma does not prevent talented individuals from achieving remarkable success.

Author’s summary: Success is possible without a high school diploma, as shown by celebrities like Jeremy Allen White and Nicole Kidman who overcame early academic challenges to excel in their careers.

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Star Magazine Star Magazine — 2025-11-06