These Celebrities Don't Actually Use Their Real Names

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling, best known for her time on "The Office," wasn't born Mindy at all. Her given name is Hindu, Vera Mindy Chokalingam. Her parents are originally from India, and Vera is "the incarnation of a Hindu goddess," she said. But her parents always called her Mindy growing up. 

Tina Fey

Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, and comes from a Greek background. Tina is just the shortened version of her middle name, so she didn't fully reinvent her acting persona. Her "30 Rock" character, Liz Lemon, is a nod to her birth name.

Advertisement

Next Page →

The More You Know

  • Dr. Ruth Westheimer is best known as a TV sex therapist—but she’s also a trained sniper.
  • A far cry from her upper-class role on Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester was born in prison; her mother was serving time for smuggling drugs.
  • Jennifer Lopez was the first actress to have a movie and an album hit number one in the same week.
  • Growing up, Eva Mendes wanted to be a nun, but she changed her mind when she found out they didn't make any money.
Next Page →

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.