THE REAL NAMES OF CELEBRITIES
You all know me as Liesbeth, but in my passport it says Elisabeth. About seven years ago I decided to call myself Liesbeth, for several underlying reasons. It didn’t take long for it to catch on and everyone called me Liesbeth. Everyone except for my father, my best friend and a handful of friends from the early days. So where am I going with this story, I hear you ask yourself. Clearly the step from Elisabeth to Liesbeth is not so shocking, but many of our favorite artists have stage names that are completely different to what is found in their passports. Therefore, I present you with a list of names you’ve never heard of before, followed by their stage names. Afterwards you can quiz your colleagues and girlfriends.
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
Without a doubt one of the funniest women in Hollywood. She is the writer responsible for the masterpiece, Mean Girls and the creator of the ‘Stop trying to make fetch happen!‘ line. She enjoys her fame as Tina Fey.
Caryn Elaine Johnson
Speaking of legends, this woman has made an appearance in nearly every major Hollywood film and is recipient of 35 film awards including an Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards. We are talking about … Whoopi Goldberg.
Amanda Lee Rogers
Her character as salaciously sultry and very sexy in Allie McBeal, was one of her best rolls ever. In real life she pushed the men to the side and opening celebrated her love with wife Ellen Degeneres. Yes, we are talking about Portia de Rossi.
Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov
A British actress of Russian origin. She has three BAFTA Awards sitting on her mantelpiece, and since 2006 an Oscar. It’s Hellen Mirren. Ha, you hadn’t though of that one, hey!
Ralph Lifshitz
Take a good look in your wardrobe, I’m guessing there may be a little something in there designed by this Ralph character. Ralph changed his name as a teenager. He once told Oprah (who is actually called Oprah) the reason being he suffered from being the butt of many jokes because his name had the word ‘shit’ in it. We now know him as Ralph Lauren.
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
In 2001 the singer behind this name first tried out the artist title of Lizzy Grant but it proved to be not as successful as hoped. She later came up with nothing other than … Lana del Rey.
Destiny Hope
If I include her surname than you will instantly know who it is. The last few years this singer has definitely created a stir and kicked up the dust. She swings past your screen on wrecking balls, smokes joints on stage and presented the world with a whole new insight into twerking. That’s right, Destiny Hope is Miley Cyrus.
Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston
Ok, so the first part of the surname gives it away a bit, buts wowzers! It looks as though this woman made a hobby of collecting names. It’s Audrey Hepburn. That is much easier to remember right. Good move.
