Ketanji Brown Jackson Shared A Scene With A Future Star During Drama Class At Harvard

Long before her time on the bench, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson acted opposite future Oscar-winner Matt Damon while they were both students at Harvard University.

In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” over the weekend, the jurist remembered working with the “Good Will Hunting” star, telling host Norah O’Donnell how the two were in the same drama class as Harvard undergrads.

Jackson said that she and Damon never worked in “an actual performance” together, but did end up as scene partners in one of their theater classes.

“He’s not going to remember this, of course,” Jackson laughed. “The reason why I remember it is because he was already kind of well-known around campus and off campus, so it was kind of exciting to be his scene partner for a particular class.”

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell about her time in a Harvard drama class with future Oscar-winner Matt Damon.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell about her time in a Harvard drama class with future Oscar-winner Matt Damon. CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

After the two students teamed up to do an excerpt from “Waiting for Godot,” Jackson ended up with high marks, while the professor left Damon with a few notes for on his performance, she recalled.

“At the end, the professor said, ‘Ketanji, you were very good. Matt, we’ll talk,’” Jackson said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I was better than Matt Damon in a scene.’”

In February 2022, a representative for Damon told The Associated Press that the Hollywood star did not remember acting with the future Supreme Court justice.

Even so, the “Bourne Identity” actor was tickled by the story, telling the AP, “That’s so cool!”

While at Harvard, Jackson majored in government while dabbling in drama and musical theater. She also performed with an improv group called On Thin Ice.

Though she didn’t pursue acting as a profession, Jackson, 53, is known for her impassioned opinions and speeches while serving on the highest court in the nation.

Damon, also 53, famously dropped out of Harvard before embarking on his storied acting career.

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