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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lisa McLoughlin

Reese Witherspoon talks about her real name shocking fans and even her co-star

Fans have been left stunned after learning Reese Witherspoon’s first name isn't Reese.

The revelation came as the 48-year-old actress appeared on Vanity Fair with Nicole Kidman and spoke about why she calls Laura Dern by her surname.

Kidman said in the interview: “I hate how you call her Dern,” remarking that it “sounds weird.”

To which the Oscar winner responded: “I’m gonna tell you why.

“Because my name is Laura, and her name is Laura and it’s confusing to me. My real name is Laura Jeanne.”

Witherspoon pictured with Laura Dern (Getty Images,)

Australian star Kidman seemed as if she’d only just remembered this fact about her Big Little Lies co-star and said: “That’s right! So you call her Dern.”

The star’s moniker Reese is her mother's maiden name and opted to use it instead of Laura or Laura Jeanne when she launched her acting career in the 90s.

Fans of the actress were surprised to learn her real name and turned to social media to express their astonishment.

One penned: “I was today years old when I found out Reese’s real name is Laura lmao.”

“Wait her name isn’t Reese,” another shared. A third remarked: “Reece is laura?!!!”

Another wrote: “Reese is LAURA???!!!! I never knew!”.

Echoing many fans’ sentiments, another shared: “I DID NOT KNOW, her full name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon!”.

Emma Stone has admitted it would be “so nice” if people referred to her by her actual name.

Witherspoon’s admission comes weeks after Emma Stone revealed how she wished she could be known by her actual first name, Emily.

The La La Land star spoke her stage moniker with her The Curse co-star Nathan Fielder and explained that people on set will call her Emily, but she goes by Emma professionally because her real name was taken by another actor in the SAG-AFTRA union.

When asked whether she would correct a fan who called her by her real name instead of Emma, the Easy A star replied: “No. That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily.”

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