Before their rise to prominence as household names they attended schools, colleges and universities just like the rest of us and - possibly - it may have been the school you went to yourself.
So, we researched Edinburgh’s famous faces to discover which schools raised the household names before they attained the ‘household’ distinction and created the following list of 10 prominent people from the area.
If you went to school with any of these stars then we hope the list conjures up fond memories of your time with them during their academic years.
5. Shirley Manson
Speaking of James Bond, Shirley Manson is a Scottish musician and the iconic singer of the ‘90s grunge rock group, Garbage. They were responsible for the theme behind ‘The World Is Not Enough’ movie in 1999. Manson attended the City of Edinburgh Music School. Her band became a household name after releasing their 1995 debut album which sold four million copies and achieved a double platinum certification. Photo: Yui Mok
6. Iain Glen
Iain Alan Sutherland Glen is the Scottish actor who stars in HBO’s Game of Thrones as Ser Jorah Mormont, an exiled knight. He was born in Edinburgh in 1961 and attended the Edinburgh Academy during its time as a boarding school. He is also well known for playing roles in other famous franchises such as Dr. Alexander Isaacs in the Resident Evil movies. Photo: Ian West
7. Alexander Graham Bell
The phrase “give someone a bell” (phone them) could not be more appropriate when you consider the Scottish-born inventor who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. Bell was from Edinburgh, at an early age he attended the Royal High School until he was 15. Later on he studied at Edinburgh University. Fun Fact: Did you know “ahoy-hoy” was Bell’s original proposition as the standard greeting for picking up the phone? Photo: The Everett Collection (Canva Pro)
8. Gail Porter
Gail Porter is a television personality, former model, and actress who started her television career in Children’s TV. She attended Portobello High School in the 1980s before kicking off a very successful career in live entertainment. Porter presented shows and broadcasts including Live and Kicking, Top of the Pops, The Big Breakfast and Children in Need. Photo: Ian West