Attn: Mary J Blige: Daniel Day-Lewis picked up an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Bristol this week. A Doctor of Letters is for scholars “with distinguished contributions to knowledge in the humanities.” Daniel, who has won two Oscars (“There Will Be Blood” and “My Left Foot,”) among many other awards, is the pride and joy of Bristol’s Old Vic Theater School which he attended for several years in the late 70’s.
Mary J Blige was a high school drop out, but recently a New York high school showed respect for her accomplishments by presenting her with an honorary high school diploma. Mary was flattered and immediately announced that she would be attending Howard University this fall in pursuit of a bachelors degree. Apparently she naively thinks that getting an education is simple and uncomplicated when you’re a celebrity! No cramming for tests or worry about grades is necessary. When the news was checked out with Howard University, school officials were embarrassed to admit that she had NOT been accepted as a student and in fact had not even applied for admission. Details! Details! Somehow we doubt that an “honorary high school diploma” would be enough to get into ANY college. Being a celebrity DOES open a lot of doors – does that include doors to a university?
Great news for Michael Jackson’s three kids. They are FINALLY going to be allowed to go to school with other children their own age. Since Michael died last summer, Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and 8 year old Blanket have been cloistered at Michael’s mother Katherine’s home. She thought about sending them to school, but ended up having them home-schooled this past year. Although they have their cousins to play with, Katherine has observed that they have no friends and lead solitary lives. In September, for the first times in their lives, the three children will attend a private school and be exposed to a whole new and wonderful world. Good for them.