If you’re a fan of celebrities, you may have heard that some of them received their stage names from medieval English ballads. Learn which ones did!
A Medieval English ballad is a form of poetry that tells a story with graphic details, usually through a narrator or through dialogue. They were a very popular literary genre in the medieval period.
NBC Series Community
The comedian Chevy Chase has been a household name for decades. He started out on Saturday Night Live, starred in many movies, and is currently a regular on the NBC series Community.
He has a lot of fans who love him for his comedy, but few people know the real reason behind his name. In fact, it has an interesting origin!
Hunting Party
Chevy Chase’s stage name traces back to a medieval english ballad. The ballad relates the story of a hunting party in the Cheviot Hills, which is a range of rolling hills that straddles the Anglo-Scottish border.
David Tennant
David Tennant has become a household name for his portrayal of the 10th Doctor in the popular TV series, but his acting career began long before he was given the iconic role. He was born in Bathgate, West Lothian and told his parents that he wanted to be an actor from the age of three.
He was encouraged to pursue a traditional career, but he refused to give up his dream. His went on to study at Ralston Primary School and Paisley Grammar School before moving on to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Professional Acting
Despite a difficult first few years in professional acting, Tennant eventually gained acclaim for his work in the theatre. He earned a reputation as a versatile and talented actor, and in 1996, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. His turn as Touchstone in As You Like It was praised as the best in years.
Michael Keaton
Keaton is an American actor who grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Kent State University before dropping out to pursue his acting career. He was a stand-up comedian and ice cream truck driver before finding success in the movies.
He is known for his early comedic roles, especially in Night Shift (1982) as a fast-talking ideas man who shares a room with a morgue attendant (Henry Winkler). His performance in Beetlejuice earned him national attention and he later played Bruce Wayne / Batman in Tim Burton’s films.
He has since shifted easily between film genres, from comedy to drama and action. His latest film, The Founder, tells the story of Ray Kroc, who started a small hamburger restaurant in California and eventually became the CEO of McDonald’s.
Nina Dobrev
Medieval English Dobrev is a Bulgarian-born Canadian actress who has become famous for her role as Mia Jones on Degrassi: The Next Generation (2006-2009). She also played Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in The CW television teen drama The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2017.
Her acting career began at a young age, and she spent time studying the arts and pursuing her passions. She is a very talented actress who has gained much success in her life. She has been able to achieve all of her goals and is now a household name.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is an American and Israeli actress. She was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and moved to the United States when she was three. Her father is a gynecologist, and her mother is a homemaker and agent.
She was scouted as an 11-year-old model in a local pizza parlor by a representative from Revlon cosmetics. But she didn’t like modeling and wanted to focus on acting.
After she was discovered, Portman went to a theater camp called Usdan. She spent her school holidays there and was able to get her first professional acting role in the 1993 play Ruthless!
Final Words:
She then made her feature film debut in Luc Besson’s Leon (known as The Professional in Europe) when she was only 12 years old. Her changed her name from Neta-Lee Hershlag to Portman when she was given the role to protect her privacy. She also starred in a number of films, including Closer and Black Swan.