Quite a lot if we believe the Hollywood Studios of the 30s and 40s!  There were only a handful of Classic Hollywood stars who kept their own names, including Jane Russell, Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly. The majority of actors and actresses had their identities completely re-written. How many of these 20 did you know, and would they have been as successful if they’d kept their original names?

Marilyn Monroe was christened Norma Jeane Mortenson

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm

Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach

Ginger Rogers was Virginia Katherine McMath

Jean Harlow had the strange name of Harlean Harlow Carpenter

Greta Garbo was Greta Louisa Gustafsson

Doris Day was Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff

Rita Hayworth was Rita Cansino

Vivien Leigh was Vivian Mary Hartley

Bette Davis was Ruth Elizabeth Davis

Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds

Gary Cooper (super duper) was Frank James Cooper

Fred Astaire was Frederick Austerlitz

Lana Turner was Julia Jean Turner

William Clark Gable just lost the William to become Clark Gable

 

Myrna Loy was Myrna Adele Williams

And then there were the stars who had better names before. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur and must have been gutted to lose her glamorous name!

Gregory Peck was Eldred Gregory Peck

Audrey Hepburn was Audrey Kathleen Ruston

Mary Pickford was Gladys Marie Smith

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