Actresses Who’ve Anglicized Their Names for Hollywood

Swapping a birth name for something shorter, simpler, or more market-friendly has been part of Hollywood from the studio era to today. Many actresses anglicized or streamlined their names to broaden appeal, avoid ethnic stereotyping, or protect privacy as their careers took off. Below are notable examples, with quick context on what they changed from, what they changed to, and why it happened. You’ll also find when in their career the switch occurred and, where helpful, a nod to signature roles.

Rita Hayworth

Born Margarita Carmen Cansino to a Spanish father and Irish-American mother, she began in Hollywood under the surname Cansino. Columbia Pictures urged a makeover around 1937, lightening her hair and raising her hairline while adopting “Hayworth,” her mother’s maiden name, and shortening “Margarita” to “Rita.” The aim was to present a less overtly Latin image in an era when studios often pushed performers toward Anglo-sounding identities. After the change, she headlined films like ‘Gilda’ and ‘Cover Girl’ and became one of the 1940s’ top stars.

Joan Crawford

Lucille Fay LeSueur entered MGM in the mid-1920s, where the studio launched a fan magazine contest to rename her. The winning choice—“Joan Crawford”—was rolled out in 1925 publicity materials and screen credits. Studio publicists believed the new name photographed better on marquees and sounded more sophisticated to American audiences. Under that name, she led hits like ‘Grand Hotel’ and ‘Mildred Pierce,’ the latter earning her an Academy Award.

Hedy Lamarr

Austrian-born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler signed with MGM after early European success, including the controversial ‘Ecstasy.’ Louis B. Mayer encouraged a rebrand for the U.S. market, choosing “Hedy Lamarr,” reportedly inspired by silent-era star Barbara La Marr. The change distanced her from her European scandal press and gave her a sleek, easily pronounceable stage name. In Hollywood she starred in ‘Algiers’ and ‘Samson and Delilah’ while also co-inventing a frequency-hopping technology foundational to modern wireless systems.

Lauren Bacall

Born Betty Joan Perske in New York to parents of Eastern European Jewish heritage, she modeled and studied acting before her film break. Director Howard Hawks and publicists recommended a surname drawn from her mother’s family name, modifying it to “Bacall,” and shifted “Betty” to the more refined “Lauren.” The streamlined name accompanied her 1944 debut in ‘To Have and Have Not’ opposite Humphrey Bogart. It became central to her branding in follow-ups like ‘The Big Sleep’ and ‘Key Largo.’

Judy Garland

Frances Ethel Gumm performed with her sisters as the Gumm Sisters on stage and short subjects in the early 1930s. As a solo teen performer, she and her team adopted “Judy Garland” in 1935—“Judy” matching a popular song and “Garland” chosen for its graceful sound. The shift helped separate her from vaudeville roots and signal a fresh contract-era identity at MGM. She soon anchored ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and later musicals like ‘Meet Me in St. Louis.’

Doris Day

Singer Doris Mary Kappelhoff began performing on radio and with big bands, where her long, German-origin surname was considered unwieldy for billing. Bandleader Barney Rapp suggested “Day,” reportedly after she sang “Day After Day,” creating a crisp, easily remembered stage name. The rebrand smoothed her crossover into film in the late 1940s. She later starred in ‘Calamity Jane’ and comedies like ‘Pillow Talk’ while maintaining a top recording career.

Veronica Lake

Born Constance Ockleman (often credited early as Ockelman/Ockleman), she transitioned to acting after modeling and small film roles. Paramount stylists crafted the screen name “Veronica Lake” to suit her cool image and to pair with the iconic peek-a-boo hairstyle. The anglicized, atmospheric surname was considered marquee-friendly and distinct. She became a film-noir fixture with titles such as ‘This Gun for Hire’ and ‘The Blue Dahlia.’

Sophia Loren

Born Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone in Rome, she first worked as Sofia Lazzaro before international producers refined the branding to “Sophia Loren.” The anglicized spelling of “Sophia” and the concise surname were designed to travel better in global markets. The change coincided with international co-productions and an American career push. She went on to headline ‘Two Women,’ ‘Marriage Italian Style,’ and Hollywood projects like ‘Arabesque.’

Natalie Portman

Born Neta-Lee Hershlag in Jerusalem and raised partly in the United States, she adopted “Natalie Portman,” using a family surname, for her early professional work. The decision protected privacy and created a streamlined, Anglo-friendly stage identity as she balanced school with acting. She first appeared on screen under the new name in the mid-1990s. Notable early projects include ‘Léon: The Professional’ and ‘Beautiful Girls,’ leading to roles like ‘Black Swan.’

Winona Ryder

Winona Laura Horowitz made her screen debut as a teenager and took “Ryder” as her professional surname. The choice is often attributed to a record by musician Mitch Ryder that was visible in her home when a new last name was being considered. The brief, Anglo-sounding name paired cleanly with “Winona” on credits and posters. She broke out with ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Heathers’ before leads in ‘Little Women’ and ‘The Age of Innocence.’

Mindy Kaling

Born Vera Mindy Chokalingam, she began performing comedy while in college and soon shortened her surname to “Kaling” for stage use. The adjustment improved pronunciation and fit on flyers and credits as she built a stand-up and sketch résumé. She retained “Mindy” as her given-name brand in writing and acting. Her breakout came as a writer-performer on ‘The Office,’ followed by creating and starring in ‘The Mindy Project.’

Michelle Yeoh

Born Yeoh Choo-Kheng in Malaysia, she competed in pageants and worked in Hong Kong cinema before international crossover. She adopted the English given name “Michelle” and used “Yeoh,” a romanized family name, for Western credits. The anglicized presentation supported broader distribution in English-language markets. Landmark roles include ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’

Share your picks of actresses who changed their names—and any interesting backstories we missed—in the comments!