Mary, as clever as paint and much admired in academic circles, was clearly destined for a brilliant career.

【翻译】玛丽非常聪明，在学术界很受赞赏，显然她一定会事业辉煌的。

1. as clever as paint and much admired in academic circles，不应看作插入语，它跟主语有修饰关系。也就是说，这个有比较结构和过去分词构成的短语，作定语修饰Mary，相当于一个非限制性定语从句。

2. as clever as paint：英语习语，意为“十分聪明”。

3. 句子主干是：Mary was destined for a brilliant career. 玛丽注定有一个好的前程。

be destined for：驶向目的地；注定做某事。