The real names of celebrities
You know me as Liesbeth, but my passport says Elisabeth. About seven years ago, I decided to call myself Liesbeth, which was based on several reasons. Soon it was really just Liesbeth, and the only one who still calls me Elisabeth is my father, my best friend and a handful of friends from the past. Where am I going with this story, you may wonder. Well, that step from Elisabeth to Liesbeth is not so shocking, but many of our favorite artists have very different names on stage than in their passport. Therefore, below is a list of names you have never heard of, followed by the stage name. And then of course quiz your colleagues or girlfriend.
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
Without a doubt one of the funniest women in Hollywood and as a writer responsible for the masterpiece Mean Girls, so also for lines like “Stop trying to make fetch happen!” She enjoys her name and fame as Tina Fey.
Caryn Elaine Johnson
Speaking of living legends, this woman has appeared in just about every major film and has won 35 film awards including an Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award. We're talking about… Whoopi Goldberg.
Amanda Lee Rogers
Sultry and very sexy in Ally McBeal, which was also one of her best roles. In real life, she leaves the men behind and celebrates love with her wife Ellen Degeneres, we are talking about Portia de Rossi.
Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov
A British actress of Russian descent. There are three BAFTA Awards on her mantelpiece and since 2006 also an Oscar. It’s Helen Mirren. Ha, you didn’t see that coming, did you!
Ralph Lifshitz
Take a good look in your closet, I bet there’s something in there that this Ralph designed? When Ralph was a teenager, he changed his last name because, as he once told Oprah (who is actually named Orpah), his real name contains the word ‘shit’ and he didn’t like that because he was bullied a lot for it. He changed it to Lauren. Indeed, Ralph Lauren.
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
The singer behind this name first tried in 2001 as Lizzy Grant but that was less successful than hoped. She thought of something new and that became… Lana del Rey.
Destiny Hope
If I add her last name, you’ll know immediately. This singer has been causing quite a stir in recent years and knows how to keep people talking. She flies on wrecking balls across your screen, smokes joints on stage, and gave the world a new concept: twerking. Indeed, Destiny Hope is Miley Cyrus.
Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston
Okay, that second to last last name gives it away a bit, but man it seems like this woman collected names. It’s about Audrey Hepburn and that is definitely much easier to remember. Good move then.
