Celebrities changing their name to something less 'foreign sounding'

[800caloriesofwine]

I'm at that point in lockdown where I'm scrolling through lists of stage names on RankerSo many celebrities have changed their surnames to anglicised ones, so many! I mean there's the obvious like Freddie Mercury and Martin/Charlie Sheen, but so many others, why?
Would we really not have gone to see a film with Winona Horowitz in? Or Margarita Cansino? Or Lea Sarfati?
Why do some actors stick to their actual names and some change theirs? The trouble is by taking a Hebrew name and replacing it with something Anglicised is obvious.

Fun to find out Shania Twain is actually called Eileen though

Why do you think OP?

Darius Danesh him of xfactor fame changed his name to Cambell I'm not sure why, I can see Freddie mercury wanted to so he could fit in.

have a think. It is not that hard

Laziness of the presumed white American audience to learn to pronounce the names? Whitewash? Actors not wanting to be typecast as 'that Spanish actress' or 'that Jewish actor.' I don't know, maybe a bit of all of it.

I mean, if you are unaware of racial bias and insidious racism atm with everything that’s going on, that’s very very poor form from you.

I assume white "Christian " is seen as acceptable.

Think hard now. Go on.

Some surnames are obviously Jewish so I assume something very beige would make it much easier to play down your religion.

The thing is OP, there’s this called ‘racism’ that exists and has been causing a bit of a problem for several hundred years.

I am very aware of racial bias but that's not quite what I'm on about here. Take Brittany Murphy, who's real surname is something Italian which I can't quite remember. What did she gain from changing her name to Murphy. Italian Americans and Irish Americans are huge demographics in the U.S, why did she choose one over the other? I don't understand what the difference is, did people in the mid 90's really discriminate against actors with Italian sounding names? Ray Romano was pretty popular at the time.

Darius wanted to be more Scottish, it gets votes. I think I love that rankier list!

Ok so in a new question, is this still happening now, somewhere in a casting studio is there someone being told to change their surname from Ali to Evans?

If they anglicise their names, they're closer to the front of the queue for most (white) roles. Being actually Hispanic or Jewish or mixed etc, the anglicesdd name doesn't stop them taking an ethnicity-specific role later. That's why they do it.

It's due to racism and fewer opportunities for minority actors. It's a pragmatic decision in response to racism.

@800caloriesofwine

Ok so in a new question, is this still happening now, somewhere in a casting studio is there someone being told to change their surname from Ali to Evans?

Without a doubt. Probably moreso now than in the late 90s and 2000s, due to attitudes re-worsening.

It'll be hidden in a suggestion to pick a name that's more distinctive/shorter/easier to spell/catchy/whatever. Just, oh look, all those distinctive/shorter/easier to spell/catchy names turn out to be British in origin.

Yeah, right.

I don’t like her films very much but Saoirse Ronan refused to change her name and I admire her for that.

@Mrsjayy

Darius Danesh him of xfactor fame changed his name to Cambell I'm not sure why, I can see Freddie mercury wanted to so he could fit in.

Because he moved to America and wanted to sound more Scottish and less Iranian. It’s such ashame.

I know that some celebrities change their surnames to hide the nepotism that is rife in Hollywood. The sons/daughters of celebrities, actors/actresses, directors, producers and so on don’t want the same surname as their famous parent. Because audience likes to think every person got a part and then got famous because of their talent. It feeds the Hollywood mythos in America of running away at 18 to Los Angeles to become a famous actress. When in fact, there is an inside track within Hollywood families. Examples are Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson, etc.

@800caloriesofwine

I am very aware of racial bias but that's not quite what I'm on about here. Take Brittany Murphy, who's real surname is something Italian which I can't quite remember. What did she gain from changing her name to Murphy. Italian Americans and Irish Americans are huge demographics in the U.S, why did she choose one over the other? I don't understand what the difference is, did people in the mid 90's really discriminate against actors with Italian sounding names? Ray Romano was pretty popular at the time.

Her parents split when she was two. Her dad was a mafia boss. She took her mother’s name after the divorce.

It is partly racism/typecasting I doubt Kirk Douglas or Tony Curtis would have been as successful if they hadn’t changed their names.
It’s also pressure from the studios to make everyone as close to who the perceived their audience to be. Arnold Schwarzenegger was told he couldn’t be successful without changing his name and accent. He ignored them possibly because he was already well known for bodybuilding.

That’s why my favourite in the famous Sheen acting family is not Martin or Charlie, but EMILIO ESTEVEZ who chose to keep the family name

And yes because of THE MIGHTY DUCKS too

@PlanDeRaccordement

True for some of the men too. Nicholas Cage is one

It's been going on for more years than we realise. Would Archie Leach have become as famous if he'd not changed his name to Cary Grant? Harry Webb to Cliff Richard?

@LouiseTrees that clears that up, thanks!

Siddig Al faddil on deep space nine changed his name to Alexander Siddig for the the first few seasons. Then changed it back.