People I (Mostly) Admire 2. Mayim Bialik: “I Started Crying When I Realized How Beautiful the Universe Is”
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Jan 10, 2026 
Mayim Bialik, an actress and neuroscientist, discusses her multifaceted life, highlighting her switch from Hollywood to academia. She shares her experiences as a sensitive person and the challenges of being a child actor. Mayim delves into her passion for STEM, the influence of a female tutor, and the importance of diverse role models in science. Reflecting on the hollowness of fame, she embraces a life focused on meaningful connections and creative endeavors, ultimately choosing family over academia while continuing to inspire others in education.
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Tutor Sparked A Scientific Awakening
- Mayim Bialik described being a bookish, anxious child who read Dostoevsky and cried on birthdays due to mortality fears.
- She credits a 19-year-old female tutor, Firza, for turning science into “poetry” and changing her life.
Authenticity Over Conformity
- Mayim frames her success as rooted in being authentic and breaking conventional rules rather than following Hollywood norms.
- She emphasizes living true to oneself as a core driver of meaningful achievement.
Demystify Mental Health Publicly
- Mayim recommends breaking down mental-health topics with experts and lived experience to demystify stigma.
- She launched a podcast to explore practical, science-backed mental-health tools people can actually use.