Latino Actresses who Changed Their Name for Hollywood

Stage names have long been part of the industry, and many Latina performers adopted anglicized or streamlined versions of their birth names to navigate Hollywood’s studio era, casting politics, or simply for memorability. Below are notable actresses whose professional names differ from the ones they were born with, along with concise background details on what changed and when, plus career highlights to anchor the context.

Rita Hayworth

Born Margarita Carmen Cansino in New York to Spanish and Irish parents, she began her career dancing in her father’s act before the studios urged a name change in the late 1930s. She took her mother’s maiden name, Hayworth, and underwent a carefully managed image makeover during her Columbia Pictures years. The transformation coincided with breakout roles in films like ‘Gilda’ and ‘Cover Girl’. Her rebranding became one of classic Hollywood’s most cited examples of studio-era identity shaping.

Raquel Welch

Born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago to a Bolivian father and American mother, she first worked as Raquel Tejada. After an early marriage to James Welch, she used Welch professionally as her career accelerated in the mid-1960s. Publicity around ‘One Million Years B.C.’ and ‘Fantastic Voyage’ cemented the stage surname. She kept the name after the marriage ended, and it remained her professional identity for decades.

Rita Moreno

Born Rosa Dolores Alverío in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York as a child and initially performed as “Rosita.” Early in her film career, she adopted “Moreno,” a stepfather’s surname, creating the stage name Rita Moreno. Her career spans theater, film, and television, including an Oscar for ‘West Side Story’. She later achieved EGOT status, one of the few performers to do so.

Chita Rivera

Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C., to Puerto Rican and Scottish-Italian heritage, she shortened her name to Chita Rivera as she moved into professional dance and Broadway roles. The concise stage name appeared on marquees during her rise with shows like ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Chicago’. Rivera’s credits span decades of musical theater, national tours, and Tony-winning performances. The shortened name became synonymous with her signature roles and choreography collaborations.

Linda Christian

Born Blanca Rosa Welter in Tampico, Mexico, she adopted the stage name Linda Christian after being discovered in the 1940s. She worked under contract at major studios and became known internationally for roles across Europe and Hollywood. Notably, she portrayed Valerie Mathis in the 1954 television adaptation of ‘Casino Royale’. The name change aligned with the era’s push for marketable, English-friendly screen identities.

Katy Jurado

Born María Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García in Mexico City, she adopted the diminutive “Katy” early in her screen career to streamline billing. After success in Mexican cinema, she crossed into Hollywood westerns in the 1950s. Her performance in ‘High Noon’ drew wide attention, followed by roles such as ‘Broken Lance’. She earned a Golden Globe and became one of the first Mexican actresses to secure substantial parts in U.S. studio films.

Maria Montez

Born María África Gracia Vidal in the Dominican Republic, she took the stage name María Montez before signing with Universal Pictures. Marketed as the “Queen of Technicolor,” she starred in exotic adventure films throughout the 1940s. Titles like ‘Arabian Nights’ and ‘Cobra Woman’ defined her screen persona. The streamlined surname helped with international promotion and marquee clarity.

Linda Cristal

Born Marta Victoria Moya Peggo Burges in Argentina, she adopted Linda Cristal as her stage name when transitioning from Latin American productions to U.S. projects. She later became widely known to television audiences for ‘The High Chaparral’. Film appearances included ‘The Perfect Furlough’, which boosted her Hollywood profile. The name offered a succinct, memorable billing across markets.

Margo

Born María Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O’Donnell in Mexico City, she worked professionally as Margo after moving to the United States. She appeared in stage and screen projects, including ‘Lost Horizon’ and ‘Viva Zapata!’. Beyond acting, she was active in arts communities and political causes in Los Angeles. The single-name stage identity simplified credits and publicity materials.

Eva Mendes

Born Eva de la Caridad Méndez in Miami to Cuban parents, she streamlined her professional name to Eva Mendes early in her career. Dropping the middle names and accent marks helped standardize credits and reduce typographical inconsistencies. Breakthrough roles included ‘Training Day’ and ‘Hitch’, followed by work in ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’. The simplified surname became her consistent screen credit across film and fashion ventures.

Cote de Pablo

Born María José de Pablo Fernández in Chile, she adopted “Cote,” a Chilean nickname for María José, while keeping “de Pablo” for her professional surname. After training in the United States, she worked in theater and television before gaining wide recognition on ‘NCIS’. The concise stage name supported distinct branding in English-language markets. Her credits also include music performances and Spanish-language projects.

Isabela Merced

Born Isabela Moner in Ohio to a Peruvian mother and American father, she announced in 2019 that she would use Isabela Merced to honor a family connection. She had already built credits in ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ and later headlined ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’. The new surname appeared on subsequent music and acting projects. The switch clarified her professional identity across film, television, and recording work.

Constance Marie

Born Constance Marie Lopez in Los Angeles, she dropped “Lopez” professionally early on for brevity in billing. She built a steady career in film and television, including roles in ‘Selena’ and the series ‘George Lopez’. Later, she starred in ‘Switched at Birth’ with extensive ASL storylines. The two-word stage name is used consistently across screen and press materials.

Eiza González

Born Eiza González Reyna in Mexico City, she shortened her professional name to Eiza González as her career expanded beyond Mexican television. After early success on ‘Lola, érase una vez’, she transitioned to U.S. films like ‘Baby Driver’ and ‘Alita: Battle Angel’. Credits also include ‘Ambulance’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’. The shortened surname aligns with common U.S. credit conventions.

Lynda Carter

Born Linda Jean Córdova Carter in Arizona to a Mexican-American mother, she adopted the spelling “Lynda” and dropped “Córdova” in professional contexts. She became internationally known for portraying Diana Prince in ‘Wonder Woman’ on television. Her career includes music releases, concert tours, and guest appearances in various series. The adjusted name has been used consistently across acting and recording credits.

Joanna Kerns

Born Joanna Crussie DeVarona in San Francisco to a Cuban-American father, she initially worked under her birth surname. She adopted Kerns professionally in the 1970s, a surname she used after marriage, and continued to use it following divorce. She became widely recognized for ‘Growing Pains’ and later directed episodes of numerous television series. The name change aligned her credits with the identity familiar to television audiences.

Genesis Rodriguez

Born Génesis Rodríguez Pérez in Miami to Cuban and Venezuelan parents, she simplified her professional name to Genesis Rodriguez. Early roles in telenovelas led to English-language projects like ‘Man on a Ledge’ and ‘Hours’. Voice and animation credits include ‘Big Hero 6’. The adjustment removed diacritics and a compound surname, standardizing her billing across markets.

Bella Thorne

Born Annabella Avery Thorne in Florida to a Cuban-American father and American mother, she shortened her first name to Bella for professional use. She began as a child actor and model, gaining prominence with ‘Shake It Up’. Subsequent credits span film, television, directing, and music releases. The concise first name has been her screen and recording credit across projects.

Share the Latina stage-name switches you think we missed—and any interesting backstories—in the comments!