9 Celebrities Who Faced Pressure to Change Their Names

“I fought him tooth and nail. However he satisfied me.”

Discover out what these stars stated about altering their names…

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj all the time thought she would use a part of her actual identify, Onika Tanya Maraj, when she started her profession in music. Whereas she knew she needed to make use of the identify Nicki, which she was known as at residence, she additionally needed to go by her final identify Maraj. Sadly, her producer thought the identify “Minaj” sounded higher and pressured her to vary it.

“Any person modified my identify. One of many first manufacturing offers I signed, the man needed my identify to be Minaj and I fought him tooth and nail. However he satisfied me. I’ve all the time hated it,” Nicki advised The Guardian.

Martin Sheen

When Martin Sheen was simply an aspiring actor, he was satisfied to vary his identify from his beginning identify, Ramon Estévez. On the time, Martin stated that having a Hispanic final identify might make it arduous to search out work and was suggested that it was arduous for individuals to pronounce. Whereas he did ultimately agree to make use of a stage identify, he now says he regrets the choice to not get up for himself.

“That’s one in every of my regrets. I by no means modified my identify formally. It’s nonetheless Ramon Estévez on my beginning certificates. It’s on my marriage license, my passport, driver’s license. Generally you get persuaded while you don’t have sufficient perception and even sufficient braveness to face up for what you imagine in, and also you pay for it later. However, after all, I’m solely talking for myself,” Martin advised Nearer Weekly.

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Zoe Saldaña

Earlier than Zoe Saldaña made it huge, her group recommended that she change her identify. Whereas Zoe now admits it was poor recommendation, she says her supervisor on the time believed it was simply the best way issues labored in Hollywood. 

“After I did Heart Stage, I bear in mind being discouraged by my administration at the moment to make use of my identify. However their intention was by no means for me to cease being who I’m,” she advised Leisure Weekly. “However my supervisor on the time was a former singer and a ballroom performer, and he or she did change her identify as properly when she was a youngster again within the ’60s, I imagine. And she or he stated it’s what all people does. That immediately is recommendation we think about poor, however that was her doing one of the best that she needed for me. However I nonetheless knew that I preferred my identify.”

Harrison Ford

As a younger actor, Harrison Ford was inspired to make use of a stage identify like a lot of his fellow entertainers. Harrison wasn’t into the concept of going by a unique identify so when the studio advised him to provide you with alternate monikers, he selected the outlandish identify Kurt Affair. Whereas the studio tried to strain him, they ultimately dropped the concept and Harrison bought out of his contract.

“They thought Harrison Ford was a pretentious identify for a younger man. I did not agree with that. I assumed it was a pretentious identify for an previous man. I nonetheless haven’t modified it,” Harrison shared.

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Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno was born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano however as a younger actress MGM Studios compelled her to vary her identify in an effort to forestall being typecast in roles. Whereas she altered a part of her moniker, she was nonetheless in a position to pay tribute to a household identify. 

“They didn’t know what to do with me due to my identify. I didn’t just like the identify Rita, however they selected it as a result of I preferred the actress Rita Hayworth. Moreno was my stepfather’s final identify, so I took that,” she advised BBC.

James Roday Rodriguez

Early in James Roday Rodriguez’s profession, he had a detrimental expertise whereas auditioning for the movie Primal Concern. Trying again, James says a casting director advised him he was confused that his Caucasian pores and skin tone was out of sync together with his final identify. As a substitute of the function he had auditioned for, he was given the possibility to learn for a small function of a gang member — after which was advised he wasn’t Latino sufficient for that half. 

A number of years later, simply as he was about to graduate from NYU, he was given the possibility to audition for a DreamWorks-produced TV pilot — and he landed the function. However on the time, the group was involved that the function wasn’t written for a Mexican individual and it was recommended he change his identify.  

“They have been frightened that casting a white man with a Mexican identify could possibly be construed as their model of ‘numerous casting,’ and there could possibly be a backlash. They stated, ‘You may wish to give some actual consideration to altering your identify,’” he advised TVLine. “Now think about somebody giving that recommendation to an actor out loud immediately, with the local weather and cancel tradition. That’s it; they’re accomplished. However that is the late ’90s. It was a unique time and, frankly, my first two experiences form of proved the purpose that they have been making.”

He finally selected to go by James Roday, a reputation that he used for almost all of his profession. In 2020, he determined to reclaim his final identify and now goes now James Roday Rodriguez. 

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Michael Peña

When Michael Peña first bought to Hollywood, it was really useful that he change his identify. Regardless of the strain, Michael declined, feeling that altering his identify would erase a few of his identification and his household’s historical past. Despite the fact that he noticed actors who had modified their identify getting extra jobs than him, he needed to turn into an inspiration to different Latino individuals.

“I noticed that some individuals would change their identify, and they might get commercials. I simply thought it was a slap within the face…as a result of I did cope with racism as a child. So it felt like altering my identify could be form of like conforming. I’m probably not down for that,” he advised GQ.

He continued, “I do know that my dad and mom, they crossed the border to supply us an excellent life. And I didn’t wish to flip my again on my dad working two full-time jobs, my mother working two full-time jobs, so me and my brother might go to personal college. So I by no means thought-about it. It might’ve been simpler, perhaps. Possibly to start with.”

Barbra Streisand

When Barbra Streisand was a younger musician, she was advised she ought to change her identify to Barbara Sands. Trying again, she says she had no real interest in going by a stage identify — however she did conform to take away an “a” from her beginning identify Barbara to make her moniker extra distinctive.

“Individuals needed me to be known as Barbara Sands. I assumed, ‘What? No. Streisand is my identify. I don’t wish to change it,’” Barbra shared on The Tonight Present.

Hasan Minhaj

When Hasan Minhaj started his profession in comedy, he was advised he was going to have to vary his identify so the general public would be capable to pronounce it. At first he tried going by the identify Sean throughout a couple of open mic nights however finally determined he wouldn’t be pressured into altering his identify. 

“After I first began doing comedy, individuals have been like, ‘It’s best to change your identify.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not going to vary my identify.’ For those who can pronounce Ansel Elgort, you’ll be able to pronounce Hasan Minhaj. There’s an actor simply named Ansel Elgort and all of us simply stroll round announcing it, utterly usually,” Hasan stated on The Ellen Present.