Here’s an article about celebrities who have adopted stage names:
In Hollywood, becoming famous often involves changing one’s identity. Some actors and musicians opt for new monikers altogether while others simply assume them without legal action. We explore some popular figures that got creative with their alternate personas.
Emma Stone recently expressed her desire to be called by her real name, Emily, after going by the stage name professionally for many years due to another actress holding the same SAG membership as hers. She explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s just because my name was taken [by another actress]. For some reason I freaked out a couple of years ago. Just call me Emily.”
Singer Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, shared the story behind his unique stage name during an interview in 2010 with Rap-Up: “Bruno is after Bruno Sammartino, who was this big fat wrestler,” he said. “I guess I was this chunky little baby so my dad used to call me that as a nickname.” The Mars part of his name came about because “a lot of girls say I’m out of this world” and thus he decided to come up with an extra terrestrial surname.
The origin story for actress Carmen Electra’s stage name is linked to Prince, who signed her onto his label Paisley Park after she auditioned as part of a girl group that the legendary musician was putting together in 1991. “After I danced for him he said ‘You look like Electra’,” Carmen recalled on ‘The Yo Show’ (via Yahoo Music) back in 2014. Despite initially being hesitant about the name, she eventually grew to love it as it seemed to suit her better than Tara Leigh Patrick – that is until now. In February of this year, Electra officially changed her legal name following a request filed in January of last year.
Faith Hill adopted the stage surname McGraw after marrying fellow superstar Tim McGraw (formerly married to Elizabeth Slater) in 1996 while she professionally kept her birth name despite it being her ex-husband’s as well – possibly out of nostalgia or reverence. The couple named their third daughter Audrey, who also bears a part of Faith’s original moniker.
Can you provide more examples of celebrities with interesting stage names and the stories behind them?
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