Celebrity
Get prepared for trivia night.
Celebs Real Names
1.
Rihanna was born Robyn Fenty.
Emma Stone is actually named Emily.
Reese Witherspoons real name is Laura.
Katy Perry shares a name with Kate Hudson.
Perrys birth name is Kathryn Hudson, and she used the name Katy Hudson for her first self-released album.
However, due to possible confusion with the actor Kate Hudson, she came up with Perry.
Bruno Mars is Peter Gene Hernandez.
The singer was nicknamed Bruno by his dad because he resembled wrestler Bruno Sammartino.
He added Mars to the end for his stage name because he claimed he was out of this world.
Lady Gaga is Stefani Germanotta.
Lana Del Rey is really Elizabeth Grant.
It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue, she said.
Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope.
In 2008, shelegally changed her nameto Miley Ray Cyrus.
Jamie Foxxs real name is Eric.
Blake Livelys last name is Brown.
The Duchess of Sussex wasnt born Meghan.
Prince Harry is actually Prince Henry.
Markles husband also goes by a different name.
Alexis Bledel is named Kimberly.
TheGilmore Girlsstar was born Kimberly Alexis Bledel, which she used as a child model.
But before entering the acting sphere, she decided to go by her middle name.
Drake is not really Drake.
The rapper was born Aubrey Graham, which he used as a teenager while starring as Degrassi.
Joaquin Phoenix has had several name changes.
Natalie Portman was born Neta-Lee.
When she became an actor, she started using her maternal grandmothers maiden name.
Brad Pitt isnt just short for Bradley.
Olivia Wildes last name is Cockburn.
Jason Sudeikis first name is Daniel.
Frank Ocean also changed his name.
Unexpected Celebrity Couples
21.
Julia Roberts dated Matthew Perry.
The actors dated briefly in the late 90s, which Perry revealed in his memoir.
It helped secure Roberts memorable guest appearance onFriends.
Sandra Bullock had a relationship with Ryan Gosling.
Cher had a fling with Tom Cruise.
They didnt go the distance, but in 2013 she did call him one ofher top five lovers.
Kelis dated Bill Murray.
The singers milkshake brought Murray to the yard for atwo-month whirlwind romancein the summer of 2023.
Pamela Anderson was engaged to Kid Rock.
Andersons relationship with Tommy Lee is well-documented, but she also wed another rocker.
Kim Kardashian dated Pete Davidson.
While Kardashian and Davidsons relationship is now canon, nobody expected it.
Davidson was engaged to Ariana Grande.
They went their separate ways by years end.
He also dated Kate Beckinsale.
Davidson is the king of unexpected relationships.
After breaking things off with Grande, he casually dated the 50-year-old model for a few months in 2019.
Avril Lavigne & Tyga were a thing.
He was a boy, she was a girl, but this pairing wasnt obvious at all.
The artists had anon-and-off romancethroughout 2023 but called it off later that year.
Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx were together.
The two actors weretogether for six yearsbefore splitting in 2019.
They kept the relationship very private.
EmRata & Eric Andre happened.
Emily Ratajowski started dating the comedian a month after she split from her ex-husband.
They broke up two months later.
Mila Kunis was Macaulay Culkins first love.
TheThat 70s Showalum dated theHome Alonestar for nearly a decade before splitting in 2011.
Rachel Bilson & Bill Hader dated.
The comedian doesnt seem like Summer Roberts pop in, but Hader and Bilsons relationship said otherwise.
The pair were first linked in 2019 andsplit a year later.
Chelsea Handler & 50 Cent casually dated.
Tthe rapper and comedianhad a casual flingin 2011.
Jessie J dated Channing Tatum.
The British singer and theMagic Mikestar started dating in 2018 after his divorce from Jenna Dewan.
They stayed together for nearly two years before separating in April 2020.
Grimes has children with Elon Musk.
Even after becoming on-and-off, they welcomed two more children, Exa Dark Siderl and Techno Mechanicus.
Alanis Morrissette dated Ryan Reynolds.
No, Reynolds did not inspire You Oughta Know.
ScarJo & Jack Antonoff were high school sweethearts.
They evenwent to prom together.
Nicole Kidman was engaged to Lenny Kravitz.
Cameron Diaz dated Jared Leto.
Diaz always had a thing for rockstars.
Family Relationships
41.
Sofia Coppola & Nicholas Cage are cousins.
Cages uncle is legendary director Francis Ford Copolla, the father of filmmaker Sofia, making them direct cousins.
Jamie Lee Curtis is Jake Gyllenhaals godmother.
Curtis is longtime friends with Gyllenhaals parents, director Stephen and screenwriter Naomi Foner.
During2020 lockdown, Gyllenhaal and his girlfriend Jeanne Cadieu lived next door to Curtis in a house she owns.
Gyllenhaal also has a famous goddaughter.
Keeping the godparent chain going, Gyllenhaal is the godfather of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams daughter, Matilda.
Sabrina Carpenters aunt voices Bart Simpson.
Her aunt Nancy Cartwright voices the iconic TV character.
By relation, I am also a legend, she joked in a2021 radio interview.
Mariska Hartigay has a famous mother.
Acting runs in Olivia Bensons bloodline.Hartigays motherwas the late actor Jayne Mansfield.
Meryl Streep is Billie Lourds godmother.
Dionne Warwick is Whitney Houstons cousin.
Emily Blunt is Stanley Tuccis sister-in-law.
Paris Jackson is Macaulay Culkins goddaughter.
Jacksons father, Michael Jackson, was lifelong friends with theHome Alonestar.
Yara Shahidi & Nas are cousins.
Diana Ross is Ashlee Simpsons mother-in-law.
Simpson married Ross son Evan in 2014.
Yes, this also means that Tracee Ellis Ross is her sister-in-law.
Miley Cyrus is Dolly Partons goddaughter.
Tom Hanks ancestor is Abraham Lincoln.
Filmmaker Michael Moore asked Hanks to run for president, which is actually in his bloodline.
Hanks isdistantly related to Lincolnthrough the presidents mother, Nancy Hanks.
Jeff Bezos is related to a famous country singer.
The Amazon founder is related to legendary country singer George Strait.
Hecalled him a cousinin 2018, but their family tree suggests its a bit more complicated.
The Beckham kids have famous godparents.
It feels natural that the children of David and Victoria Beckham would have epic godparents.
Brooklyn and Romeo count Elton John as their godfather, and Harper has Eva Longoria as a godmother.
President Obama has notable distant cousins.
Cameron Diaz is Nicole Richies sister-in-law.
Richie doesnt just have a famous father.
Melissa & Jenny McCarthy are actually related.
Melissa and Jenny are first cousins, as the latter casuallyreminded us on Instagramin 2015.
Brandy is cousins with Snoop Dogg.
The singer countsrapper Snoop Doggas one of her cousins, making for a very musical family dynasty.
Beanie Feldstein is Jonah Hills sister.
Steven Spielberg has two famous goddaughters.
The iconic director has iconic goddaughters: Gwyneth Paltrow andDrew Barrymore.
Barrymore called him the only parental figure in her life.
Hidden Talents
62.
Sydney Sweeney is also a car mechanic.
When shes not acting inEuphoria, Sweeneymoonlights as a car repair woman.
She revived her vintage 1969 Ford Bronco by herself.
Margot Robbie is now a breathing expert.
Dermot Mulroney plays cello forSpider-Man.
At 10 years old, Mulroney was a cellist in childrens orchestras.
Maya Rudolph has a Prince cover band.
Rudolph doesnt just play therichest TV characterever.
When shes not making fans laugh, she regularly plays shows with herPrince cover band, Princess.
Steve Martin is a banjo player.
Hes a full-blown banjo player, recording albums and going on tour with various bluegrass artists.
Ariana Grande is a master of impressions.
Grandes impressions are almost as impressive as her vocals.
Shes able tonail nearly every divas voice, from Celine Dion to Britney Spears.
Geena Davis is almost Olympic-level in archery.
Kaley Cuoco is a professional equestrian.
So is Bella Hadid.
Shes slowly gotten back on the horse and rode inan equestrian eventin March 2023.
Jamie Foxx & his daughter have a matching talent.
Roles Actors Didnt Get
72.
Britney Spears was almost inThe Notebook.
The singer was the second choice toplay Rachel McAdams roleof Allie inThe Notebook.
So was George Clooney.
Believe it or not, Clooney was attached toplay Goslings role of Noah.
Blake Lively auditioned forMean Girls.
Amy Schumer was supposed to be Barbie.
Vince Vaughn was nearly part of theFriendscast.
Vaughn was brought in toaudition for Joey TribbianiinFriendsand was seriously considered for the part.
But apparently Matt LeBlanc had better chemistry with the rest of the group.
Leonardo DiCaprio turned downBoogie Nights.
Claire Danes was almost Rose inTitanic.
Hugh Jackman was asked to be James Bond.
After the success ofX-Men, Jackman was asked if he had interest in taking on the Bond mantle.
He turned it down because he thought the script has gotten unbelievable and crazy.
John Travolta was nearly Forrest Gump.
Long before Tom Hanks won his second Oscar for playing the titular character, Travolta wasoffered the role.
He rejected it in favor ofPulp Fiction.
Emily Blunt had to pass onBlack Widow.
Songs Artists Passed On
82.
Kesha wrote this Britney Spears hit.
Spears wrote this Selena Gomez song.
Spears is no stranger to passing songs along.
Gomez recorded a song that Spears co-wrote, entitled Whiplash, for her 2011 albumWhen the Sun Goes Down.
Sia offered this Beyonce song to two artists.
Since U Been Gone was given to two others first.
Max Martin originally wrote Kelly Clarksons seminal 2004 hitwith P!nk in mind.
Many singers recorded Maren Morris The Middle.
She decided not to record it after hearing the demo.
Jesse McCartney wrote this Grammy-nominated hit.
Hilary Duff declined Charli XCX without knowing.
Rihanna has rejected many hits.
Taylor Swift pitched this song to The Chicks.
Once the group passed, she put Drews name back in and recording it for her own debut album.
Celebs Jobs Before Fame
92.
Madonna ran on Dunkin.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Melissa McCarthy was a Starbucks barista.
After moving to Los Angeles to start her career, McCarthy worked at Starbucks.
She got to serve coffee to many famous people, including hercomedy idol Chris Farley.
Nicholas Galatzine worked with thisBridgertonstar.
While building his acting resume,The Idea of Youstarworked at a fro-yo shopwith futureBridgertonstar Simone Ashley.
Joe Alwyn also worked at a yogurt shop.
Alwynworked at a yogurt shopin London, as ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift famously wrote on theFolkloretrack Invisible String.
Meghan Markle wrote Robin Thickes wedding invites.
Before becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Markle worked as a freelance calligraphist.
She wrotethe invitationsfor Thickes 2005 wedding to ex-wife Paula Patton.
Rachel McAdams worked at McDonalds.
Nicki Minaj served tables at Red Lobster.
Before her rap career took off, Minaj was awaitress at Red Lobster.
Brad Pitt wore a chicken costume.
Chicken costume and big sign included.
Tiffany Haddish was an airport gate agent.
Unexpected Hobbies
101.
Mila Kunis is aWorld of Warcraftfiend.
The actress admitting to loving the game in a2008 interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
Tom Cruise has his pilot license.
The movie star became a pilot in 1994, and evenpiloted the P-51 MustanginTop Gun: Maverick.
Karlie Kloss knows how to code.
Celebs With Interesting College Degrees
104.
Natalie Portman has a bachelors degree in Psychology.
Portman attended Harvard University and graduated in 2003.
Lisa Kudrow has a bachelors degree in Biology.
Before she was an actress, Kudrow studied Biology at Vassar College.
Will Ferrell has a bachelors degree in Sports Information.
The comedy legend graduated from the University of Southern California in 1990.
Ashley Judd has a bachelors degree in French.
Cole Sprouse studied Archaeology.
Angela Bassett has a bachelors degree in African-American Studies.
TheWhats Love Got To Do With Itactress graduated from Yale University in 1980.
This article was originally published onMay 3, 2024
