Ten celebrities who changed their names: from Meghan Markle to Katie Price
These stars switched monikers to get ahead in showbusiness
For some celebrities, the name on their birth certificate just didn’t cut it for the world of showbusiness.
Many have, instead, adopted for a pseudonym to help them on the road to success.
Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone recently revealed that she’d like to return to her birth name: Emily Stone.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Similarly, Michael Keaton “when accepting his gong for Birdman told the audience he’s actually Michael Douglas”, says the Daily Mirror. He changed his name to avoid being confused with the Basic Instinct actor, and chose Keaton because he liked comedian Buster Keaton.
From Elton John to Mila Kunis many of the biggest names have switched monikers in an effort to get fans to remember them.
Check out the gallery above for some more surprising name changes.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 22, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - dystopian laughs, WNBA salaries, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geisha paparazzi: Kyoto's biggest headache
Under The Radar Tensions over tourists taking photographs of iconic Japanese women have reached 'boiling point'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
15 toxic relationship movies for Valentine's Day skeptics
The Week Recommends Someone always has it worse than you do
By David Faris Published
-
Jeremy Clarkson's 'deplorable' article about Meghan Markle sparks over 17,500 complaints
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Harry & Meghan: a serious attempt to set the record straight?
Talking Point Critics are divided over the motive behind the latest revelations from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
By The Week Staff Published
-
The biggest revelations from Netflix's Harry & Meghan documentary
Speed Read The second part of Netflix's 'Harry & Meghan' series has dropped. Here's everything you need to know.
By Brendan Morrow Last updated
-
Liz Garbus: the director behind Netflix’s Harry & Meghan documentary
Why Everyone’s Talking About Oscar-nominated filmmaker is known for documenting the lives of troubled public figures
By The Week Staff Published
-
Harry and Meghan Netflix doc trailers accused of misleading use of stock footage
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Archetypes podcast: do we need more insights into Meghan Markle’s life?
Talking Point Critics say opening episode is ‘gossipy’ and ‘almost entirely preposterous’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published