Come on now, when you think of the word genius, you think of Einstein writing down equations, Hawking deconstructing the universe, or perhaps that one buddy of yours who works Sudoku into his warm-ups. But surprise. Some of Tinseltown’s most recognizable stars are just as brilliant. Behind the red carpets, the box office blockbusters, and the social media viral interviews, there’s a surprising array of stars with off-the-charts IQs, college degrees, and intellectual accomplishments most of us can only hope to dream about. These are the celebrities who’re showing us that being intelligent never goes out of fashion. Let’s count down the 15 most brainy stars shining in Hollywood.
15. Kate Beckinsale (IQ: 152)
She might be famous for kicking vampire butt in Underworld, but Kate Beckinsale’s true superpower could be her brain. With an IQ of 152, well within the top 1% of the population, Beckinsale studied French and Russian literature at Oxford and is fluent in Russian. She’s even quipped that being too intelligent could be a liability in Hollywood. But let’s face it, smarts and poise are one unbeatable combination.
14. Snoop Dogg (IQ: 147)
Bow down to the Doggfather of both rap and wit. Snoop Dogg once revealed on social media that his IQ clocks in at 147, and honestly, it tracks. Between building a hip-hop empire, launching multiple businesses, and staying effortlessly cool for decades, Snoop proves brains and chill can coexist. When asked about his intelligence, his answer was simple and iconic: “I’m really brilliant.” Hard to argue with that.
13. Kesha (IQ: 140)
Beneath the flash, the party classics, and the crazy stage shows, Kesha’s a complete math geek, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s expressed that math “makes her hot,” and she wasn’t joking. Kesha achieved a nearly perfect 1500 on the SATs and was enrolled in an elite International Baccalaureate program before music consumed her life. Who knew the pop bad girl was so numerically inclined?
12. Nolan Gould (IQ: 150)
Don’t be fooled by his lovable dolt of a character on Modern Family; Nolan Gould is far from clueless. He joined Mensa when he was 13, finished high school early, and was enrolled in college courses before most teenagers got their first driver’s license. Quick-witted, eloquent, and introspective, Nolan is a testament that it’s possible to be funny and terrifyingly smart at the same time.
11. Cindy Crawford (IQ: 154–160)
Cindy Crawford is not only one of the planet’s most famous supermodels, she’s also a licensed genius. Valedictorian of her high school class, she majored in chemical engineering at Northwestern University on an academic scholarship before becoming a model. She’s since leveraged that smarts into a business empire. Beauty may fade, but brains? They endure forever.
10. Sharon Stone (IQ: 154)
Before she was a Hollywood legend, Sharon Stone was a child prodigy. She accelerated through school and was admitted to college at age 15. Having an IQ of 154 and being a member of Mensa under her belt, she’s as quick-witted as the femme fatales she’s famous for portraying. Stone shows us that brains and class go together.
9. Rowan Atkinson (IQ: 178)
Yes, Mr. Bean himself is among the most intelligent individuals in show business. Rowan Atkinson’s timing may look spontaneous, but it has a genius mind behind it. He has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Oxford University and an IQ of approximately 178. He may be as quiet as Mr. Bean, but his brain does all the talking.
8. Lady Gaga (IQ: 166)
Mother Monster doesn’t only shatter records, she shatters stereotypes. Lady Gaga’s IQ of 166 is as astounding as her talent. She studied at a gifted youth program in her adolescence, composes her own music (and for other performers), and speaks several languages. She’s proof that creativity and intelligence are the ultimate duet.
7. Dolph Lundgren (IQ: 160)
Of course, he fenced with Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, but Dolph Lundgren’s greatest asset could be intellectual. The Swede holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering and is a holder of a Fulbright Scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He speaks six languages and has an IQ of 160. Brain and brawn, indeed.
6. Mayim Bialik (IQ: 163)
She was a neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory, and in real life, too. Mayim Bialik received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, where she studied Prader-Willi syndrome. Her IQ of 163 makes her one of Hollywood’s most intelligent actors. Whether she’s discussing quantum mechanics or clowning around on TV, Bialik is evidence that intelligence can be both compelling and charming.
5. Matt Damon (IQ: 160)
Matt Damon is not only a film actor, he’s a scholarly giant. During his time at Harvard, he started penning Good Will Hunting, which would later win an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. His IQ is reported to be 160, and his level-headedness is evident through his acting and advocacy. Damon’s brilliance doesn’t just stop at the movies.
4. Lisa Kudrow (IQ: 154)
Behind Friends’s most lovably quirky character is a seriously smart woman. Lisa Kudrow went to Vassar College, where she studied psychobiology and even assisted her father’s medical research team prior to embarking on an acting career. With an IQ of 154, she’s scientifically astute as well as being amusing. Phoebe Buffay never could!
3. Ashton Kutcher (IQ: 160)
He may have played the lovable oaf Kelso on That ’70s Show, but Ashton Kutcher is far from dumb. His IQ is roughly 160, and before acting, he majored in biochemical engineering. Nowadays, he’s one of the top investors in Silicon Valley, investing in Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify, among others. Savvy money moves, anyone.
2. James Woods (IQ: 180)
Few performers are smarter than James Woods. With an IQ of 180 and one point off SATs, Woods studied at MIT before dropping out to become an actor. His lightning-fast wit and searing delivery of dialogue charge every performance with electricity. He may be the smartest actor to ever step onto a Hollywood set.
1. Brian May (IQ: 180)
Rock icon, astrophysicist, and general genius, Brian May leads the pack. The Queen guitarist holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics and even contributed to NASA’s New Horizons Pluto mission. May, who has an IQ of 180, connects the realms of science and music as no other can. He’s a rocket scientist rock star, literally.
Hollywood’s not all about glamour; it’s also about grit, curiosity, and some serious smarts. These 15 stars demonstrate that intelligence takes many different forms, whether it’s learning quantum physics, penning Oscar-winning screenplays, or cracking the codes of the cosmos. So next time you catch your favorite star on the big or little screen, remind yourself that person might just be able to outsmart the scriptwriter.