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Kat Dennings recently opened up about her decision to change her name in a revealing conversation on the Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast. The actress, best known for her role as Max Black on 2 Broke Girls, disclosed that her real name is Katherine Victoria Litwack. She explained that at the age of 9, she realized her birth name wouldn’t work in the entertainment industry. “This isn’t going to work for me,” Dennings said, reflecting on her decision. “This is not going to work.” She humorously added, “She-slash-I was very ahead of her time,” acknowledging the forward-thinking nature of her choice.
Dennings recalled that the decision to adopt a new name was partially inspired by a “CEO situation,” implying that her real name simply wouldn’t be ideal for a career in Hollywood. Her new surname was influenced by Lloyd Alexander, the well-known fantasy author of The Chronicles of Prydain, whose wife, Janine Denni, had a French name that caught Dennings’ attention. The actress decided to tweak it and take on the last name “Denni,” which later became the more recognizable Dennings.
As for her first name, Dennings revealed that she was inspired by Christina Ricci’s character, Kat, in the 1995 film Casper. The actress admitted that Casper was one of her favorite films, and this connection to the character played a key role in her decision to adopt the name Kat.
During the podcast, Dennings also reflected on her early days of auditioning, noting the lack of inclusivity at the time. She reminisced about her career beginnings and how the industry has evolved since then.
Kat Dennings’ candidness about her name change adds a personal touch to her public persona and reveals her creative approach to shaping her identity in Hollywood.