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July 15th, 2010
01:30 PM ET
Orlando Bloom gets a college degreeForget his recent engagement to supermodel Miranda Kerr; Orlando Bloom can't stop gushing about his new college degree! "It's a really big deal. It's an exciting day for me," Bloom told UK reporters of the honorary degree bestowed upon him by the University of Kent. Wearing a mortarboard and red graduation gown, the 33-year-old English actor joined more than 340 graduates for the ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. "I'm really honored to be back in my hometown," said Bloom. "I have so many amazing memories of the cathedral and Canterbury."
Though he attended London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Bloom had to skip the graduation ceremony to film "Lord of the Rings." This time around, however, Bloom's parents, sister, and fiance were all on hand to watch him accept his diploma. "I have lived near the university so it's like my playground," Bloom beamed. "It's a huge, huge honor and I feel chuffed, as does my mother - nobody more than my mother!" |
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Honorary degrees shouldn't exist. They devalue academic achievement.
Wearing a mortarboard and red graduation gown, the 33-year-old English actor joined more than 340 graduates for the ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral.
Distance University Online
I'm not sure I would go so far as to say he didn't earn his degree. Sure, he didn't actually attend any classes and it's not a "real" degree, but he rose from relative obscurity in his hometown to eventually be an international sensation and household name. You couldn't pick two bigger franchsies than Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, and both opportunities fell into his lap right around the same time. His meteoric rise to stardom is certainly noteworthy, and it seems nice to be honored by his hometown like that.
Some people just can't ever let anyone have anything nice.
Earning a degree means actually putting in the academic work required to..you know..earn it. Being a movie star doesn't make you all special. I'd rather hear about a poor kid from 'nowhere' working hard, earning a scholarship and a Ph.D. THAT'S good news to me.
Whatever, people! If you just listen to the man speak, even scripted lines in character, you know he's well educated. Or is it only educated people who can tell? Anyway, good for him on both counts (the parchment and the babe). As for Ms. Kerr, funny how some commenters don't know who she is, but are so quick to assume she's an airhead. I for one don't know, but I assume that Mr. Bloom does.
"If you just listen to the man speak, even scripted lines in character, you know he's well educated."
HUH? Anyone can 'sound smart' speaking words someone else wrote.
the article says he had to skip graduation at the guildhall school of music, which is not affiliated with the university of kent. so whatever coursework he did there did not count towards this honorary degree he got from kent.
I think Renee was referring to the "honorary degree" part of the article, a choice of phrasing which at least indicates that Mr. Bloom did not "earn" his degree. While he may have completed some credits, the degree's honorary nature means that he did not complete the requirements and that, in many ways that count, it is not a "real" degree. For instance, it would be insufficient to get him into graduate school or a teaching position. Not that he needs either of those things. Right, Renee?
PS: I kind of agree with you. After working myself to the bone for both a doctoral AND a post-doctoral degree- and having finally achieved a position teaching at a University while simultaneously practicing law- I find myself a little disillusioned by the actor's "honorary degree." Good for him for being excited, though.
"Though he attended London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Bloom had to skip the graduation ceremony to film "Lord of the Rings." Sounds like he did EARN a degree. The honorary degree allowed him to participate in the ceremony which he had to skip in the past for his "real" degree.
Stuff a sock in it, you bloviating halfwit.
According to online sources, Bloom moved to London at 16, spent 2 years acting in theater, got a scholarship, played the lead on stage, acted in a feature film, was accepted to the Guildhall, graduated from the Guildhall and went on to act in 14 movies including the most notable, (3) Lord of the Rings, Blackhawk Down and (3) Pirates all in the span of 14 years...the big difference is that he completed his education and started getting paid enormous amounts of money by the time he was 23...looks may have gotten his foot in the door but I'm guessing he had to work very diligently for his place in the world.
NOW, is'nt that special ??
It means nothing to have a Degree if you did nothing to earn it. What a bunch of crap.
What makes you say he didn't earn his degree? He DID attend a school of music and drama... what did you think he was doing, Astrophysics?
Just because you got your degree from DeVry / community college in "being a tool" doesn't mean you should be hating on someone else for what you assume to be "doing nothing" to earn his degree.
I agree... it states it's an honorary degree which means it was no earned.... attending college and finishing college are two different things.... it lessens the value of all the degrees actually earned by students....
Maybe you didn't read correctly, he got his degree but they honorary made it so that he could actually walk and accept his degree...Maybe you should look into going back to school cause your reading skills suck....
Wise words spoken!
Good for him. Maybe people like Miley can learn from him.