The truth behind the nickname: Why did Hollywood legends hide their last names?

**The truth behind the pseudonym: why did Hollywood legends hide their last names?**

The names of many Hollywood stars familiar to us are actually pseudonyms. Behind each of them is a unique story: some chose a new name for themselves in order not to be confused with other colleagues, and some chose it to look brighter on stage.

**Julianna Moore**

The actress's real name is Julie Ann Smith.

The first steps of the Oscar winner in Hollywood were not easy. When she tried to register with the Screen Actors Guild, she found out that an actress with the same name already existed. The surname Smith was very common in the United States, which prevented the young actress from being recognized.

Julie Ann did not want to change her name at all, but she was forced to take a risk for her future. She chose her father's surname - Moore. In order not to offend anyone, she added her mother's surname to her name Julie. Thus, Julianne Moore, the star of dozens of films such as "The Big Lebowski", "Hannibal", "Stupid Love", was born.

**Winona Ryder**

The actress's real name is Winona Laura Horowitz.

The legendary actress of the 90s, who returned to the screens through director Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice", is actually from the Horowitz family. Her pseudonym suddenly came to her mind during the audition process for the actress's first film - "Lucas". When the young actress was asked how to write her name in the credits, she replied without thinking: "Winona Ryder". Later, while talking to the director, the actress said that she chose this surname because the music of singer Mitch Ryder was playing in the background in the room.

Her name also has its own mystery. The actress was named Winona in honor of the city of Winona, Minnesota, where she was born. Her middle name, Laura, was given in honor of her father's close friend, the wife of the famous writer Aldous Huxley.

**Jamie Foxx**

The actor's real name is Eric Marlon Bishop.

The actor, who received an Oscar for the film "Ray" about the famous musician Ray Charles, began his career in stand-up shows. At that time, the young comedian Bishop noticed one thing: since there were very few female comedians, the organizers of the program always put them on stage first. Then, using cunning, he took the pseudonym Jamie Foxx, a universal name that would suit both men and women.

The new name not only guaranteed Foxx a place on the stage, but also provided him with a ready-made interesting stage look. The host of the show: "Jamie Foxx, is he here?" When he called, a strong and handsome man would suddenly appear on stage to the applause of the audience. By the way, he chose the last name Fox in honor of another famous comedian, Red Fox.

**Diane Keaton**

The star of the films “The Godfather” and “Manhattan” was forced to take her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, because another Diane Hall was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild.

However, in the film she still returned to her real name. Director Woody Allen wrote the film “Annie Hall” specifically for her, giving the main character the actress’s real name, Hall, and her childhood nickname, Annie. It was this role that brought Diane an Oscar in 1978.