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What do Hollywood stars, musicians, royals and German celebrities all have in common? Many of them spent part of their youth at a boarding school. Communal experiences like shared living, lessons and the structure of daily routines, laid important foundations for the future. Our list shows who some of them are – from acting icons to pop stars.
International Celebrities with Boarding School Backgrounds
Many international stars spent their school years at boarding school, learning far more than just maths and English.
- Emma Watson – Dragon School and Headington School, Oxford
The British actress became world-famous as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. She first attended the Dragon School, a long-established private school in Oxford (which was also one of the schools that our very own Ambassador, Cory Lowde, attended as a child!). After this she moved on to Headington School, a girls’ boarding school with strong academic support. This environment made it possible for her to keep up with her studies while filming. - Michael Douglas – Choate Rosemary Hall, Connecticut
The double-Oscar-winner and son of Kirk Douglas attended one of America’s top boarding schools, also once home to John F. Kennedy. Surrounded by discipline, pressure and ambitious peers, Douglas learned skills that later served him well in Hollywood. - Chris de Burgh – Marlborough College, England
The Irish musician, best known for Lady in Red, grew up partly in South America before being sent to Marlborough College in England. His memories of boarding school are mixed – he has spoken openly about challenges, while also acknowledging how deeply the experience shaped him. - Olivia Wilde – Phillips Academy Andover, USA
The actress and director (Booksmart) is a well-known alumna of one of the most prestigious East Coast boarding schools. At Andover, she developed her passion for theatre and the arts. - Tom Hardy – Reed’s School, Surrey
Known for his intense roles (Mad Max, The Dark Knight Rises), Hardy wasn’t the easiest teenager. His time at Reed’s School, an established boarding school in England, helped him find discipline and channel his energy creatively. - King Charles III – Gordonstoun, Scotland
The King himself attended Gordonstoun, a boarding school in Scotland with a strong focus on physical challenge and character development. Many royals have studied there. Charles’ time wasn’t always easy, but it instilled a deep sense of duty. - Benedict Cumberbatch – Harrow School, London
The acclaimed actor (Sherlock, Doctor Strange) was educated at Harrow, one of England’s most exclusive schools. There, he first discovered his love for the stage. - Carey Mulligan – Woldingham School, Surrey
The Oscar-nominated actress (An Education, Promising Young Woman) studied at a Catholic girls’ boarding school outside London. It was there she found her courage to pursue acting, despite her teachers’ advice to the contrary. - Dakota Fanning – Campbell Hall, California
A star since childhood (War of the Worlds, Uptown Girls), Fanning attended a private school with a boarding-style structure that specialised in supporting young talents, allowing her to balance career and studies. - Rupert Everett – Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire
The British actor (My Best Friend’s Wedding) went to the Catholic boys’ boarding school Ampleforth. He later spoke candidly about its strictness, while also crediting it with giving him confidence. - Emily Blunt – Hurtwood House, Surrey, UK
The British actress (The Devil Wears Prada) studied at the creative boarding school Hurtwood House. Known for its strong emphasis on the arts, it gave her the chance to nurture her acting talent. Blunt has often spoken about how the school helped her overcome a stammer and set her on the path to Hollywood success.
Famous Germans Who Attended Boarding Schools
Boarding schools were not just for aristocrats and future CEOs – many well-known Germans also spent formative years there. Whether in acting, politics or sport, the experience shaped their paths.
- Iris Berben – Boarding School in St. Peter Ording
As a teenager, Berben was even named “Miss Internat”. She has described her time there as both challenging and formative – learning to speak up, assert herself, and find her own way. - Walter Sittler – Schule Schloss Salem
The actor grew up immersed in boarding school life – his mother was deputy head at Salem. For him, Salem meant more than classes: community, responsibility and clear structures. - Jürgen Klinsmann – Football Boarding School, Stuttgart
Before becoming a World Cup champion, Klinsmann trained and studied at the Stuttgarter Kickers’ football boarding school. The balance of schoolwork and football taught him discipline, shaping him both as player and later a coach. - Mario Götze – Football Boarding School, Dortmund
The scorer of Germany’s 2014 World Cup final goal trained at Dortmund’s academy boarding school. There he honed both his skills and his character. - August Oetker – Schule Schloss Salem
The heir to the famous Oetker company also studied at Salem, where teamwork and responsibility were instilled from an early age. - Max Markgraf von Baden – Salem & Gordonstoun (Scotland)
He began at Salem before continuing at Gordonstoun, like many royals. Both schools left a lasting mark on his education and sense of duty. - Cleo von Adelsheim – Salem & Hurtwood House (England)
The actress and aristocrat studied at Salem and later at Hurtwood House in England, known for its creative focus. Both experiences gave her confidence to succeed in acting. - Cilly Aussem – Boarding School in Geneva (Switzerland)
Germany’s first Grand Slam tennis champion trained at a tennis boarding school in Geneva. Discipline and determination, learned there, carried her to the top. - Christian Lindner – Schloss Buldern (NRW)
The former finance minister spent part of his youth at this Catholic boarding school, which he later credited with teaching him independence and responsibility. - Madeleine Alizadeh (DariaDaria) – Boarding School in France
The Austrian-born influencer, well-known in Germany, studied at a French boarding school. She recalls the international environment and cultural exchange as hugely influential.
From stage to stadium, from royal palaces to creative studios – boarding schools have been stepping stones, safe havens, and sometimes tough challenges forging the character and the lives of the famous. Whether German actors, British royals or American stars, the influence of those years often stayed with them for life.
FAQ
Which German celebrity studied at Salem?
Walter Sittler, August Oetker, Cleo von Adelsheim and Max Margrave of Baden all attended Schule Schloss Salem.
Which boarding schools do famous people choose?
Popular ones include Harrow, Andover, Salem and Gordonstoun.
Which actors went to boarding school?
Emma Watson, Olivia Wilde, Carey Mulligan, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rupert Everett, among many others.
Which athletes went to boarding school?
Jürgen Klinsmann, Mario Götze and Cilly Aussem all trained in boarding schools dedicated to sport.
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Julia Wilmes
Managing Director
Supporting families through these important steps in their children’s educational journey has become my heartfelt mission since founding Akademis. That is why it is especially important to me that we dedicate ourselves to every student seeking a boarding school with empathy and personal care.
