Natalie Woodīorn to Russian immigration parents, the young actress changed it to blend into the Hollywood times, like the Swedish Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, better known as Greta Garbo. Is it just me or is her real name close to being a Fiona Apple album title? 5.
The reason for the name change should be pretty obvious. Her exes were born as “Walter Willis” and “Christopher Kutcher.” 3. The singer changed her name to avoid confusion with that other Hudson she shares a name with: Kate Hudson. Here are 55 people whose real names might surprise you. Or if you’re Albert Brooks, there’s no fucking possible way you can use your real name - because…well, you’ll see. When the Hollywood system started, people commonly took simplified versions of their names to make them easier for people to say. Doris Day is much simpler than “Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff” and Clayton Holmes Grissom picked “Clay Aiken” when signing up for American Idol - because it was just more memorable. You might not have ever heard of “Maurice Micklewhite,” “Olivia Jane Cockburn” or “Diane Hall” - but you’ve certainly heard of the actors who were born with these names.
