Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Eliza Dushku has taken a big career step nearly one year after announcing her retirement from acting.
Dushku, known for the role of Faith Lehane in Buffy and its spin-off Angel, has received her master's degree in clinical mental health counselling from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The former actor shared a video of her graduation ceremony to her Instagram, penning a dedication to her family and loved ones and acknowledging her milestone.
"Graduating with my master's degree (!!) feels like more than an achievement — it feels like a deep calling realized. True growth, energy, and passion — manifested," she wrote in the caption.
"After nearly a decade of inner work and building a new life, I'm so grateful for this moment in time. To my highest self — for taking this wild leap away from everything I knew and making it happen," she added.
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She thanked her two sons and her husband Peter Palandjian "for the little sacrifices made & love you gave, each day to honor and support this dream".
Dushku continued: "And to my family, friends — new and old — my colleagues/classmates, professors/teachers, and community, I give thanks: for rooting me on, encouraging me day in and day out, and affording me the grace, strength, and space to step fully into these past years of clinical training."
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The Bring It On star previously received her bachelor's degree in holistic psychology from Lesley in 2020, completing her studies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This pandemic/endemic has really rooted in me the conviction that we all need a little help along the path of life, particularly as the world/planet gets more complicated & sadly, divisive," she shared on Instagram at the time. "Go after your goals!"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer can be streamed in full on Disney+, Paramount+ and ITVX in the UK. In the US, all seasons are available on Hulu.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
