21 Famous Women Who Have Studied Abroad

21 Famous Women Who Have Studied Abroad

Julia Child - The famous chef, author, and TV host, attended Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris before also studying under master chefs in France.

Gwyneth Paltrow - Gwyneth's study abroad adventure was a "life-changing" one, as many are. She spent a year in Talavera de la Reina, Spain in high school and she hasn't been able to stay away. Ever since she was 19, she has continued to visit Spain annually, calling it a second home.

Hillary Clinton - Our Secretary of State, one of the biggest proponents of study abroad, spent time learning overseas as well. Check out her video on studying abroad for International Education Week 2012. Today, she is also the most-traveled Secretary of State ever!

Penelope Cruz - This Spanish actress left her home country to study theatre at Cristina Rota's New York school for several years.

Sista Soulja - All-in-one activist, novelist, actress, and hip-hop artist, studied abroad during her undergraduate at the University of Salamanca in Spain. She also spent time traveling in England, Finland, France, Portugal, Russia, and Spain.

Alice Walker - Alice is an important activist and author of many books and essays dealing with issues of race and class. This award-winning author, who is best known for her novel The Color Purple, spent time studying in Uganda.

Eleanor Roosevelt - This former First Lady, author, and activist studied at a private finishing school in London, England.

Sylvia Plath - This female poet and author received a Fulbright scholarship to Newnham College in Cambridge.

J.K. Rowling - J.K., the author of the Harry Potter book series, is from the United Kingdom and studied abroad the Exeter University in France.

Carrie Fisher - Yes, Princess Leia herself studied abroad - not on Alderaan or Tatooine though. In 1973, Fisher spent 18 months at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Maggie worked on her acting skills for a short time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

Gloria Steinem - Before she was famous for her role in the women's movement of the 1970s, this famous feminist activist wrote her first book, A Thousand Indias, while studying as a Chester Bowles Asian Fellow in India.

Vera Wang - One of the world's most renowned fashion designers was inspired by the life and art around her during her time studying abroad at the University of Paris (Sorbonne).

Charlize Theron - The talented and charitable actress Charlize Theron is originally from South Africa so she became a study abroad student at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.

Cynthia Nixon - This Sex and the City star spent a Semester at Sea sailing around the globe to visit a handful of new countries in 1986.

Geena Davis - You may know Geena Davis from classics like A League of Their Own, but what you don't know is that her study abroad experience took her to Sweden. As a high school student, she lived with a family, went to school, and learned Swedish for a year.

Mother Teresa - It comes as no surprise that this humanitarian woman spent time helping others and learning abroad. Born and raised in Macedonia and Albania, Mother Teresa studied English at Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Ireland before doing missionary work in India at age 18.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie - One of the most famous female scientists of all time, Marie Curie, was born in Poland and studied a variety of subjects from math to physics to chemistry at University of Paris (Sorbonne) in France.

Amelia Earhart - Amelia studied to become a nurse's aid in Canada after becoming inspired by the returned wounded WWI soldiers.

Diana, Princess of Wales - Even royalty study abroad! The lovely and philanthropic Princess Diana spent time at a finishing school in Switzerland before marrying Prince Charles.

Kristi Yamaguchi - This Olympic figure skater spent time studying in Canada while she trained to be a member of the US Olympic team. She went on to win the gold medal in ladies' singles in 1992.