Ben Kingsley

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Real Name: Krishna Bhanji

The British actor was born to a Kenyan father of Gujarati Indian descent and was given an Indian name. He also has British, German and potentially Russian blood. No wonder he decided to pay respects to his family when he was choosing a stage name: Benji was his father’s nickname while his grandfather was called King Cloves, which turned into Kingsley.

Portia de Rossi

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Real Name: Amanda Lee Rogers

Yes, we’re shocked just as much as you are. While most celebrities want an easier stage name, Amanda Lee Rogers wanted something, well, complicated. She borrowed Portia from William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice and added De Rossi as something foreign-esque.

Joaquin Phoenix

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Real Name: Joaquin Rafael Bottom

Joaquin Phoenix’s parents were involved with a religious group called Children of God several years before the future actor was born, but eventually decided to exit the group and have a new beginning. That’s why they opted to change their last name to Phoenix (a mythical bird that rises from the ashes). Joaquin’s siblings all used nature-related nicknames and his was Leaf — so until Joaquin was 15 he was known in the industry as Leaf Phoenix.