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Comment by kenjackson | Hacker News Reader

The point wasn't the degree. But more that she made the semifinals of the Intel Science Talent Search -- that in itself is prestigious, but at the same time (and I quote):

"She’d been in films directed by Woody Allen, Tim Burton and Luc Besson, appeared opposite Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Drew Barrymore and I’m getting tired of typing celebrity names here. She took on the major role of Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy that rocketed her to international fame."

To be honest, I'm not sure there's any degree where the mere act of receiving it would be more impressive than the above feat.

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"To be honest, I'm not sure there's any degree where the mere act of receiving it would be more impressive than the above feat."

Because being in the presence of popular people is a major accomplishment, right? Far greater an accomplishment than the defense of any original PhD thesis, right?

I can drive to the Viceroy hotel bar right now and be in the presence of a random A-list celebrity if I so choose. By your logic, that act alone sets me worlds apart from the entire body of original research being done by PhD candidates all over the world.

I will never understand the nature of being starstruck. If I want to shut down my rational faculty, I have a bottle of Glenkinchie at the ready.

No, she's not Paris Hilton. She was actually cast and did a superb job in roles with all-star directors like Luc Besson, in Leon. It's not that she happened to bump into Luc at a bar. But that she did her homework to be cast and then a great job in the role (and quite honestly I think one of top 1% of performances I've seen, period).

No one is starstruck by Woody Allen. But you're startstruck by his work.

Let me put it to you this way. I'm FAR more certain that you can get a PhD than you could ever get half the critical acclaim or box office receipts that Natalie has gotten.

Although, I'd just love to find out you are actually Will Smith and have just blown my thesis to pieces. :-)

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