1. Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston is an actor known for his roles in The Avengers and War Horse. But what many people don’t know is that, before his successful acting career, Tom Hiddleston achieved a Masters in Classics and then a Masters in Poetry at the prestigious University of Cambridge. He has made a huge impression in the field of poetry and is a respected professional poet.
At Cambridge Hiddleston was the president of the Cambridge Footlights, the well-known Cambridge student drama club. His specialisation was in Greek theatre, focusing on the work of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides. His work at Cambridge studying poetry was described by Hiddleston himself as “life-changing”.
2. Gena Rowlands
Gena Rowlands is a legend actress best known for her roles in films like A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, The Notebook and Being John Malkovich. Before her star-studded career, Gena Rowlands studied English at Carnegie Mellon University and received a Master’s in Poetry from Columbia University. When speaking about her education, Rowlands has commented that she feels her Master’s in Poetry helped her to ‘’become an emotionally literate human being’’.
3. Forest Whitaker
Another top actor who is a master of Poetry is Forest Whitaker. Whitaker was an incredibly successful actor, with credits in films such as The Last King of Scotland, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, American Gangster and Black Panther.
But what few people know is that before his Hollywood career, Whitaker achieved a Masters in Theater Arts and a Masters in Poetry from the University of Southern California. He has even published his own books of poetry and was awarded a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Academy of American Poetry.
4. Marion Cotillard
One of the most acclaimed French actors, Marion Cotillard, who stars in films like La Vie en Rose, Inception and Mal de Pierres, holds a Master’s of Arts in Poetry from the University of Paris.
Cotillard is a powerful force in the French film industry, but she has also made a name for herself in poetry. She has said of her education that, for her, it was a journey of personal and professional self-discovery.
5. Edward Norton
Another renowned actor with a strong poetic background is Edward Norton. Norton is most well known for his roles in films such as American History X, Fight Club and The Incredible Hulk.
Before his acting career, Norton earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Art History from Yale University and a Master’s in Poetry from Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. He has also won several awards for his poetry and is an acclaimed poet.
6. Advanced Grammar Structures
These actors have used advanced grammar structures to achieve their Master’s in Poetry. Most of them cite the importance of grammar in the creative writing process and have shared their insights on the subject. For example, Tom Hiddleston has said that “grammar and the rules of language can be incredibly powerful when used effectively in poetry.”
Gena Rowlands adds that “the use of correct grammar, combined with imagery and creativity, can make for powerful poems”.
And Forest Whitaker has declared that “grammar is the scaffolding of poetry, without it the poem can easily collapse and lose its power”.
7. Emotional Triggers
These actors have also used emotional triggers in their poetry. They have spoken about how emotion is key to creating powerful poems. Marion Cotillard has stated that “using emotion correctly can really bring a poem to life, creating vivid images that linger with the reader”.
Edward Norton has commented that “emotional triggers evoke empathy and connection with the reader and can be used to great effect in poetry”.
When it comes to emotional triggers, Tom Hiddleston is a particular fan, saying that “emotions are crucial to great poetry, they are like fireworks, they attract attention and add colour to the text”.
8. Passive Voice vs. Active Voice
These actors have also emphasised the importance of avoiding the passive voice and using the active voice instead. They all agree that the active voice gives a poem more energy, making it more engaging and compelling for the reader.
Forest Whitaker has said that “the active voice paints a clear image in the reader’s mind, it gives the poem more authenticity and life”.
Gena Rowlands adds that “the active voice is the more communicative form of expression, it adds clarity to the poem and increases its impact”.
And Edward Norton has commented that “the active voice provides power to the poet’s words, it allows the poem to convey its intended message effectively”.
9. Poetry Writing Tips
The actors often share helpful tips when it comes to writing poetry. Marion Cotillard has suggested that “one should focus on the power of language and explore the possibilities it offers”.
Tom Hiddleston has proclaimed that “writing short poems can help to distil ideas more effectively and make them more memorable”.
Edward Norton has also mentioned that “the use of metaphor adds vibrancy and depth to poetry, one should embrace such literary devices”.
And Gena Rowlands has commented that “listening to music can help one to relax and find inspiration”.
10. Conclusion
These actors have all achieved great success in their poetry careers, with some producing books of poetry and winning numerous awards. They have each used advanced grammar structures, employed effective emotional triggers and avoided the passive voice in order to create powerful pieces of literature. They have also offered tips and suggestions to help aspiring poets as they develop their works. All in all, they have provided a great example of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and an appreciation of the power of language.
