Of course, no-one applies to a university because of their notable alumni, that is clear. But it can be interesting to see who else once walked the halls you now do. To know that some of the professors teaching you also once taught someone who has gone on to achieve widespread fame and acclaim. So which celebrities went to the University of Birmingham?
If you study (or are going to study) at the University of Birmingham, here are a few names who made it to the big leagues from where you are.
Which Celebrities Went To Birmingham University?
Tim Curry
Actor Tim Curry is best known for his role as Dr. Frank N. Furter in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He has since gone on to portray other iconic roles such as Pennywise in It (1990), Wordsworth in Clue (1985) and Captain Hook in Peter Pan & the Pirates, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award.
In 1968, Curry attended the University of Birmingham studying a combined Bachelor of the Arts degree in English and Drama.
Despite being known for his film roles, Curry has also has wide success in the world of theatre. His first role on stage came shortly after the release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He played the famous Tristan Tzara in Travesties which became a smash hit, winning two Tony Awards and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award.
He also played composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dickens’ famous character Scrooge and earnt his second Tony nomination for playing leading man Alan Swann in My Favourite Year (1982).
Michaela Coel
Michaela Coel is a successful British actress and screenwriter. She initially found fame in Chewing Gum, a sitcom created from Coel’s 2012 play of the same name. Coel also became the first black woman to win an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series. She won this for her work on I May Destroy You which she wrote, starred in and co-produced.
In 2022, Coel appeared as Aneka in Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Coel attended the University of Birmingham from 2007 to 2009, stuffing English Literature and Theology.
See also: Best Volunteering Groups At The University Of Birmingham
Victoria Wood
The late Victoria Wood was a British powerhouse in the world of comedy. She won several awards for her TV shows and specials which usually had a musical comedic element. Wood is best known for her songs and skits relating to social class with a satirical edge.
Wood frequently worked alongside Julie Walters, specifically writing roles for her. One such as the ‘Two Soups’ skit which has stood the test of time and still has people referencing it today.
After realising that drama was the route she wished to take in life, she studied at the University of Birmingham in the department of Drama and Theatre Arts.
Maurice Wilkins
Maurice Wilkins is a biophysicist who contributed to the understanding of X-ray diffraction, phosphorescence and helped the development of the radar. Despite passing away in 2004, Wilkins’ discoveries will last a lifetime and allow his legacy to continue on.
In 1940, Wilkins attended the University of Birmingham to study his PhD. Along with Mark Olphant and John Randall, he published a series of papers around phosphorescence and electron traps, which bagged him his doctorate in science.
He is also noted for his work on the structure of DNA which he practised at King’s College London.
Matthew Goode
Matthew Goode is a British actor best known for his roles such in massive hit films such as The Imitation Game (2014), Match Point (2005) and the series The King’s Man (2021).
Goode has never really been pigeon-holed into one genre, spanning the whole range of genres on offer from psychological thriller to romantic comedy and historical.
Despite speaking of the fact he had awful stage fright, Goode studied at the University of Birmingham and subsequently went on to train further at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
For those wondering which celebrities went to the University of Birmingham, this gives you a good idea of just how broad that list could be.
Read next: What Is The University Of Birmingham Known For?
