July 9th 2024.
Actor Will Ferrell recently shared some personal details about his childhood, including his real name. In a recent interview on the MeSsy podcast with hosts Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the 56-year-old revealed that his birth name is actually John William Ferrell, but he goes by Will.
Will explained that growing up, he was a "conscientious class clown" and always felt "embarrassed" when teachers would address him by his legal name at the beginning of each school year. He would have to correct them and explain that he goes by Will, not John. This went on for the first week of school before the teacher would finally remember his preferred name.
"It wasn't my choice," Will shared. "My parents named me John, but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a rule sheet, my legal name is John Ferrell. I don't know why it was so embarrassing for me to have to explain that I'm actually Will."
He joked that some listeners may find this "lame," but his co-host Christina quickly added, "We just lost anyone named John." Will also noted that he's not the only celebrity who goes by a different name, mentioning stars like Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, and Sir Elton John who have also made name changes.
The discussion then turned to actor Sam Neill, who also changed his name from Nigel John Dermot Neill. Sam has previously shared his own feelings of "embarrassment" about his birth name, calling it a "disadvantage" in the entertainment industry.
During an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson show, Sam joked, "My parents gave me a disadvantage from the start." He added that there are no famous actors named Nigel Neill, so he changed his name to Sam, which has become his well-known moniker in Hollywood.
It seems like Will and Sam share a common experience of feeling embarrassed or awkward about their given names. But as they both found success in their respective careers, it's clear that their chosen names have become synonymous with their talents. And they're not alone, as numerous other celebrities, like Nicolas Cage, Reese Witherspoon, and Jamie Foxx, have also changed their names before becoming household names.
So, if you have a unique name or have ever felt self-conscious about correcting someone on your preferred name, don't worry – even famous stars have gone through the same thing. As Will said, "It's not really trauma, but it's just a minor thing." And as Christina jokingly added, "Sorry to any Johns out there."
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