Fans in disbelief as Reese Witherspoon's real name uncovered

Fans are absolutely gobsmacked after finding out the real name of Hollywood legend Reese Witherspoon .

Reese Witherspoon, the actress and producer known for her roles in massive hits like Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions, Friends, and Sweet Home Alabama, wasn't always called Reese .

The 48-year-old star from Louisiana, US, was born with a completely different name and chose 'Reese' - her mother's maiden name - as her stage name when she entered the acting world.

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In a candid chat with Vanity Fair alongside Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman, the acclaimed actress opened up about how her name still leads to mix-ups off-screen.

During their conversation, Nicole questions Reese's tendency to call fellow actress Laura Dern by her surname, remarking: "I hate how you call her Dern. It sounds weird."

Reese then clarifies, saying: "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."

The revelation has left hundreds of stunned fans rushing to the comments section to share their amazement, with many exclaiming they've only just found out. One fan exclaimed, "I'm 42 years old. She has always been my absolute favorite! And I learnt this today?! Oh my God."

Another, sharing the same first name, commented excitedly: "As a fellow Laura, this is such an exciting revelation! " A third chimed in with disbelief: "Wait wait just a minute. LAURA? ! " while another simply couldn't believe it: "Her name is WHATTT!?"

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is a name that doesn't appear in any film credits, which is why it's not widely known. She has been using this alias since she left Stanford to chase her Hollywood dream.

However, those close to the star know her simply as Laura.

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