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Brilliant and beautiful: Smart women are just hotter

Siege

Seems I'm not the only one out there who thinks brains are an essential part of the beauty package. Personally, I can only look for so long before wanting to carry on a coherent, intelligent conversation about something a little deeper than fashion. I also like to be able to use words that contain more than a single syllable.

There are plenty of lists out there detailing beauties with big brains, but this one does a better job than most. The list includes some of the most obvious brainy beauties, like Jodie Foster, Natalie Portman and Jennifer Beals. But, like any list, it is far from complete.

So because I know you are all simply beside yourselves waiting for another list, I will keep you waiting no longer. Here are some of the women who prove to me that smart is sexy. Think of it as my anti-Britney list.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

She has a degree in literature from Columbia University. She also tends to choose roles that involve a whole lot of brain power, and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. I love that in a woman.

Amanda Peet

Another Columbia grad, who just happens to have really good taste in friends.

Danica McKellar

Child star, math genius, and summa cum laude graduate of UCLA. Need I say more?

Brooke Shields

Princeton, anyone? How about with a degree in French literature? Oui, Oui.

Hedy Lamarr

Like your cell phones? I'm not sure what I'd do without mine. And we all have Hedy Lamarr to thank for it. That's right, her ideas about frequency hopping provided the basis for cell phone technology and secure military communications. How's that for smart?

Angela Bassett

Loved her as Tina Turner. Loved her biceps, too, but that's a different issue. She also happens to be a Yale grad.

Sandra Oh

Student council president and environmental club founder in high school, she turned down a scholarship at Carleton University in Ottawa in order to study drama at the National Theater School in Montreal. And now she gets to play doctor every week. Smart choice, I'd say.

Lisa Kudrow

Do you have any idea how smart you have to be to pull off a character like Phoebe? I'll tell you. You have to be brilliant. And Kudrow is. She's got a degree in Biology from Vassar.

I know I've missed some of your favorites. They'll feel neglected if you don't share.

Siege's blog

Submitted by

Siege

on October 11, 2007 - 5:49pm.

TAGS ::

My favorite brainy beauty ...

Submitted by

Tease (359 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:05pm.

is someone that none of you have the pleasure of knowing. My wife is the smartest, sexiest, most beautiful woman I've ever met.

I'm a lucky gal. :-)

Lisa

Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. Franklin

The original list...

Submitted by

filmgrrrl76 (44 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:12pm.

Was anyone else completely disturbed by the comments posted in the original list (Celebrity Top) website?

I'm freaked out by it.

There have to be more qualified women

Submitted by

exevangel (26 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:31pm.

This list is interesting for what it lacks: women with graduate degrees! A B.S. from an Ivy League or Ivy-league-like institution is a lovely thing, but in this day and age a bachelor's degree is really the bottom of the scale. Where are the women with actual advanced credentials? Not just the "I play a doctor on TV" but "I am a doctor" not to mention the JDs, PhDs, etc. Yes, they are unlikely to be actresses, but that doesn't actually exclude them from being hot!!!

Dr. Rachel Maddow

Submitted by

spotticus (636 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 8:58pm.

I would put up for consideration Dr. Rachel Maddow, currently hosting an evening show on AirAmerica, and doing the pundit gig for free on cable news shows such as Olberman and Abrams. She is smart, funny and hot. No one rocks a rugby jersey like Rachel on her you tube political podcasts. AfterEllen did an interview with her a while ago.

i second that...

Submitted by

dj shiva (250 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 2:36am.

rachel maddow is a badass AND a smartypants!!

you beat me to it.

Submitted by

chanticorae (89 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 9:06am.

rachel maddow is my ultra-crush.

funny, down-to-earth, hot, lesbian rhodes scholar?

um, yes please!

Re: Rachel

Submitted by

in_trepid (3 posts)

on August 20, 2009 - 5:02am.

spotticus, RM has a morning Air America show, and has been hosting her own M-F 9pm gig for MSNBC for almost a year now, which I'm *pretty* sure she gets paid for. The morning radio show is basically a rerun of the previous night's MSNBC show. Also pretty sure she was paid as a visiting pundit before getting her own show. She made MSNBC sign her on via a contract. She used to appear on CNN too, prior to the deal with MSNBC.

Not that I'm a fan or anything...

I agree with this...

Submitted by

mossy (95 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 11:08pm.

"This list is interesting for what it lacks: women with graduate degrees!"

But if the women featured on this AE entertainment website had advanced degrees that would make them "professionals" in their fields of study. But they're actresses! That is their profession not lawyers, doctors, statisticians. I thought the point of the blog was pointing out that there are intelligent women that are professional entertainers.

"Brilliant and beautiful" should not be just actresses!

Submitted by

exevangel (26 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 11:39am.

I understand your point but think that the list was definitely too focused on actresses. Even "tv personalities" in other fields sometimes have masters or JD degrees depending on their topic of commentary. But in general, if the only requirement is "brilliant and beautiful" then we can easily and quickly move away from hollywood and start asking "where are the beauties amongst the chattering class" instead of "who in hollywood managed to stumble through an undergraduate college degree?"

Well, there is the

Submitted by

frosted_fraggle (86 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:34pm.

Cambridge educated, outspoken, witty, Ellen-guest-staring, amazingly-beautiful-if-not-playing-a-Nanny-or-a-Hogwarts- professor Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson

ooo

Submitted by

ravennaromance (63 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 7:32pm.

i have to say Emma Thompson is a fave of mine! ^_^

Well

Submitted by

juls (5 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:47pm.

I do need to list my other fellow Vassar alumni: Meryl Streep '71 Drama and Erin Daniels '95 Art History.

Shakira

Submitted by

Pudge (55 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 6:53pm.

She's the kind of woman where the more you learn about her the more you admire her.

She's a great musician, writing her own music and lyrics, playing a number of instruments..and of course her vocals are distinctive and unique.

She started her own foundation when she was 18 years old.

She was appointed a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador in 2003

Has given money and time to a number of other causes.

Plus, she's adorable and sexy simultaneously. :) And I'm not the only one who thinks so :)

I agree with you

Submitted by

ravennaromance (63 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 7:34pm.

shakira is a lovely latina. She's just gorgeous ^_^ and bilingual!

Shakira is actually of Arab decent

Submitted by

NorthernStar (163 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 10:26pm.

Her family immigrated to Colombia from Lebanon, and Shakira is an Arab name.

Not correct...

Submitted by

Cailean (165 posts)

on October 15, 2007 - 6:04pm.

her father while of Lebanese descent was born in New York and is probably as Arabic as the Zero. Her mother was born Columbian. So they did not immigrate from Lebanon and she is actually a mix of a US-American father and a Latin-American mother.

Shakira gets my vote too

Submitted by

blabbermouth (54 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 4:37am.

Nothing more attractive than a beautiful, strong, independent musician who can actually play an instrument or three, ANNNND writes her own songs. Rock on....

Umm you forgot Jordana Brewster

Submitted by

ravennaromance (63 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 7:35pm.

A YALE degree?? C'mon. Get on the ball. Plus she's smokin hot. SMOKIN HOT.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Submitted by

CourtNYC (20 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 8:47pm.

I have always adored her. She is gorgeous, classy, smart, and just seems very grounded. She is definitely in my top 10!

Disturbing...

Submitted by

Rituximab (49 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 9:06pm.

The women in that original link may be hot and brainy, but the commenters sure aren't...

missed another one

Submitted by

Beemer (14 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 9:13pm.

Umm, what about Jennifer Beals? Gorgeous and a Yale graduate. I'm surprised Scribegrrl hasn't mentioned this one already.

natalie: Natalie Portman.

Submitted by

orangeredsun (41 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 9:43pm.

natalie: Natalie Portman. Harvard grad. hot. enough said. natalie: Natalie Portman. Harvard grad. hot. enough said.

what about...

Submitted by

IndustrialGirl (113 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 9:53pm.

Emily Deschanel

"Life's too short to be cool" -Shirley Manson-

When I think of brainy actresses ...

Submitted by

Karisita (27 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 10:52pm.

One of the first to come to mind is Geena Davis

Meredith Salenger

Submitted by

Carrie Lyn (25 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 10:56pm.

1992 graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology from HARVARD University.

Laney from Dream a Little Dream. *swoon*

"Where are the women with

Submitted by

alex (51 posts)

on October 11, 2007 - 11:49pm.

"Where are the women with actual advanced credentials?"

Do honorary degrees count? ;)

Off the top of my head I know Marlee Matlin has one, and Jodie Foster has three.

Smart and Beautiful Womyn Entertainers

Submitted by

Lunakiss (2054 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 8:01am.

I think we just got dissed... How obtaining two degrees does that count? Jordana Brewster definte Emma Thompson,my fav too, so is Danica M. Angla B is fav actress of all times. I ddin't know she went to Yale. Thanks for that fact. I can't think of any female entertainers just professional womyn in their fields

Annette Bening, Stockard Channing, Frances McDormand, et al.

Submitted by

DKHO (43 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 8:16am.

Annette Bening: B.A. Drama, San Francisco State University

Stockard Channing: Bachelor's, Radcliffe

Frances McDormand: B.A. Bethany College, M.F.A., Yale Univ School of Drama

Holly Hunter: Bachelot's in Drama, Carnegie Mellon University

Kyra Sedgewick: Bachelor's, USC

Sandra Bullock: Bachelor's, East Carolina University

... Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close ...

Submitted by

DKHO (43 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 8:30am.

Susan Sarandon: B.A., Catholic University of America

Glenn Close: B.A., William & Mary (member, Phi Beta Kappa)

Kathleen Turner: B.F.A., University of Maryland

Ellen Barkin: B.A. History & Drama, Hunter College

carleton and sandra oh!

Submitted by

Renee (232 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 8:41am.

do you think that since i (like sandra) received a scholarship and (unlike sandra) got my journalism degree at carleton university...that that makes me capable of becoming a famous actress? haha afterall...we were originally headed in the same direction.

i love when you mention my hometown girl :) now if she could only hook up with a woman on grey's...

154 IQ

Submitted by

Vee (217 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 9:43am.

Well I can't have a brainy actresses list without Sharon Stone who has an IQ of 154

The woman is amazing. What she does for gay rights and HIV/AIDS organizations is remarkable. I love her.

Mira Sorvino

Submitted by

Julia (273 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 10:19am.

"Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1989, with a BA in Chinese (East Asian Languages and Civilizations). Her honors thesis: "Anti-Africanism in the People's Republic of China" about the Nanjing Anti-African protests, which won the Harvard Hoopes Prize for writing." (imdb)

Intelligence is more than getting a degree

Submitted by

Natazzz (1113 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 10:16am.

So are we saying that a(ny) university degree equals brainy?

Really?

Who doesn't have a BA these days...

LOL!

Submitted by

ice cream (not verified)

on October 12, 2007 - 10:57am.

Indeed! Even George W Bush has an BA from Yale! :)

And while I am at it, I'd like to add Gillian Anderson to the list of beautiful and smart women.

"call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

Well...

Submitted by

orangeredsun (41 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 1:46pm.

I chose Natalie Portman not only for her degree but she does speeches about the environment and micro engineering. She has proven to be quite intelligent in that field.

“The only thing that the world will not have enough of is exaggeration.”

-- Salvador Dali

hey, :)

Submitted by

ice cream (not verified)

on October 12, 2007 - 2:04pm.

I am totally with you as far as Portman is concerned but she has more than "just a BA from any university"!

"call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

Sandra's is way smart, but for a different reason

Submitted by

LezzyGeek (47 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 2:49pm.

This is not to put Sanra Oh down, but as a Carleton University student myself I felt it necessary to inform you that it is the university that gives out the most scholarships in all of Canada-even I got one- and its unfortunate nickname is Last Chance U. I think Sandra's intelligence is evident in her decision not to go to Carleton and instead head for a prestigious drama school in a way hipper city:)

woah there!not every program

Submitted by

Renee (232 posts)

on October 13, 2007 - 2:06pm.

woah there!

not every program at Carleton is bad. i have a carleton journalism degree (which also happens to be the degree that sandra almost took)...and it is one of the most prestigious journalism schools in north america!

there's no reason to be debbie downer just because you don't like your program...and ottawa is an awesome city!

ps...giving high scholarships is a good thing...not something to knock. AND one of the recent nobel prize winners was a carleton grad.

if you dislike Carleton so much...why are you there?

Jodhi May

Submitted by

EllaMack (94 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 3:14pm.

has a Masters in English Literature from one of the colleges at Oxford.

If you want to go back a few years, Judy Holliday, who mostly played 'dumb blonds' (see Born Yesterday (for which she won an Oscar) or Adam's Rib) had an IQ of 172. Also going back a few years, Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr (Samson and Delilah, Dishonoured Lady, and famous for one of the first nude scenes in Ecstacy) co-invented a radio frequency-hopping system during WW2 that was used by the US navy in guiding torpedoes. Frequency hopping is now used in cell phones and WIFI technology. Alas, the patents lapsed before the telecommunications boom hit.

Aisha Tyler

Submitted by

roni1133 (59 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 4:06pm.

My favorite brainy, super hot actor is without a doubt Aisha Tyler. She graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in political science (she minored in environmental policy) and planned to become an environmental lawyer before realizing she really wanted to be a stand up comedian and actor.

Intelligence is so sexy. A few years ago, Aisha was on a celebrity episode of The Weakest Link. She answered a question about King Lear correctly, and I actually swooned. :)

Sigh... I miss Talk Soup so much.

Not An Actor...

Submitted by

Hannah (288 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 9:30pm.

But Sarah Vowell. MA from School of the Art Institute in Chicago. I don't even find her super physically attractive (though she is a hottie) but her brains make me swoon.

Tina Fey is my homegurl!

Submitted by

Fran (7 posts)

on October 12, 2007 - 10:42pm.

Tina Fey is my homegurl! B.A. in Drama at the University of Virginia. She's smart, geeky AND incredibly beautiful. I wouldn't mind seeing her dressed up as "slave Leia" for Halloween. Or... pretty much any day.

---
Lick - For your sapphic fangurl desires | Watch vlog episode 1x01 now! @ http://lickfangurlblog.blogspot.com/

The Oxbridge MA

Submitted by

exevangel (26 posts)

on October 15, 2007 - 4:00pm.

Be careful, all Oxbridge graduates with bachelors degrees are, after several years, also awarded a Master of Arts degree without any further work. It's one of the strangest parts of an odd system that survives as a relic of another time. An Oxbridge MA does not actually mean the same as an earned masters degree!

Lisa Randall...

Submitted by

Blasianbeatnik (108 posts)

on October 26, 2007 - 11:09am.

Lisa Randall is a leading theoretical physicist and expert on particle physics, string theory and cosmology. She works on several of the competing models of string theory in the quest to explain the fabric of reality, and was the first tenured woman in the Princeton University physics department and the first tenured female theoretical physicist at MIT and Harvard University. --Wikipedia

She's Top Time's 100 Influential...and though she's not a quite in the entertainment biz, she's wrote tons of books in which she quotes Bjork and Eminem. And she's superhot!

www.myspace.com/blasianbeatnik02

Geena Davis anyone?

Submitted by

Morgan (4 posts)

on March 3, 2008 - 2:55pm.

Geena Davis is a MENSA member

criteria

Submitted by

Klara (155 posts)

on August 20, 2009 - 3:41am.

Ok, this article is about hot AND smart women. I get that you chose hotness out of your own opinion (and I quite agree). but since when does a BA equal intelligence? come on, i am sure these ladies are smart, but to put a simple degree in place of better arguments is just lame.

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