You’ve probably heard of actor/director Hugh Grant and comedian and ‘The Office’ star Ricky Gervais, but did you know that these two celebrities have a degree in medical biology? What other famous faces have followed in the footsteps of these A-listers? Here are five celebrities with a degree in medical biology.

Hugh Grant

After studying English literature at Oxford University, Hugh Grant switched gears and enrolled in a medical biology course at Bart’s Hospital in London. He later dropped out before completing his studies but not before appearing in a landmark medical research project which discovered the role of proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9) in white blood cells.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais may be best known for his roles in ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’, but before he found fame as an actor and comedian, he graduated from UCL with a degree in philosophy and physiology. His interest in medical research led him to study for a master’s degree in biological anthropology at Leicester University, where he researched the role of cortisol in stress reactions. He later abandoned his studies to pursue a career in comedy.

Cameron Diaz

You probably know her best as the leading lady from The Holiday, but did you know that Cameron Diaz has a degree in medical biology? Diaz enrolled in a pre-med program at California State University, though she eventually dropped out to pursue acting full-time. Still, that didn't stop her from using her knowledge of medical biology later in her career; in 2009 she starred in the medical drama In Her Shoes.

Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow is best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the popular sitcom Friends, but did you know that she has a degree in biology from Vassar College? Kudrow originally planned to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor but gave up on that dream after realising that she didn’t have the stomach for blood or gore! These days, she uses her knowledge of science to inform her acting choices and has even hosted shows like National Geographic’s Explorer.

Hugh Laurie

Best known for his starring role on Fox's long-running medical drama "House," Hugh Laurie has a real-life background in medicine; he graduated from the prestigious Selwyn College, Cambridge with a degree in medical biology. He even worked as a doctor for several years before becoming an actor, though he has said that he found it difficult to connect with his patients and ultimately decided that acting was his true calling. These days, Laurie uses his platform to raise awareness about various health issues; he is a patron of the UK charity Bloodwise, which funds research into blood cancer.

Get your master’s degree from the University of Bolton!

Hearing that some of these celebrities have a medical biology degree might have surprised you. Alternatively, you might be wondering how you can take your own degree and learn to become a specialist in medicine. This is where the MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism) degree can help support your career ambitions. By allowing students to personalise their postgraduate education, we can use our teaching-intensive, research-informed approach to:

- Support your chosen specialism
- Capture essential employability, transferrable, and business skills; with help from our dedicated Careers and Employability Team
- Ensure you are making the right investment in your future by helping you gain the skills and self-belief to showcase your worth in your chosen field
- Offer an ideal course for graduates and professionals in a wide range of areas

If you wish to take this course over a longer time period than 12 months, we also offer the chance to complete the course in either 18-months as a full-time student, or 24-months as a part-time student. For full-time study, please visit our MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism): Extended course page. Alternatively, for part-time study, please visit our MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism) page.

For further information, please contact us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call on 01204 903807; we are here to help.