Changed Names Trivia Quiz

Answer: Madonna

Yes, this is the evergreen Madonna, who started out on her career back in 1978, and while not so focussed on her singing these days, she still entertains her fans on screen and on the stage. As a singer, some of her best known hits such as "Like a Virgin" in 1984, and was still winning Grammy Awards in 2005 with "Confessions on a Dance Floor".

As an actress, Madonna was in a number of films such as "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985), "Dick Tracy" (1990), "A League of Their Own" (1992), and "Evita" (1996)

Answer: Judy Garland

Judy's role as Dorothy Gale in 'The Wizard of Oz' is probably the role she is best known for. Her career as an entertainer started when she sang with her sisters Mary Jane and Dorothy Virginia, both live and in films from 1929, and it was during this period they became known as the Garland Sisters.
After "The Wizard of Oz", Judy went on to have a reasonably successful film career over the next couple of decades, with her most notable films being "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944), "The Harvey Girls" (1946), "Easter Parade" (1950), after which MGM let her go from her contract. Judy received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in "A Star is Born" and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Judgement at Nuremberg".
Judy died in 1969 after a drug overdose

Answer: John Wayne

John Wayne is, of course, amongst the top stars in the Western genre. Wayne appeared in 179 films and television productions throughout his career. His career has seen him in lead roles starting in 1930, though this first film, "The Big Trail", was a flop at the box office.

It wasn't until his role in "Stagecoach" in 1939 that Wayne became a mainstream star and he went on to star in 142 motion pictures. Other major films include "Red River" (1948), The Searchers" (1956), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", with Jimmy Stewart (1962), and "True Grit" (1969). Outside of Westerns, Wayne is probably best known for "The Quiet Man" (1952), "Rio Bravo" (1959), with Dean Martin, and "The Longest Day" (1962).

His final role was in "The Shootist" in 1976 before his death from cancer in 1979. Patrick and Ethan are two of his sons.

Answer: Vladimir Lenin

Whilst not necessarily as well know as a later successor, Stalin, Vladimir Lenin was the driving force behind the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 and got involved in socialist politics after the execution of his older brother. Despite the name Lenin was exiled before returning to Russia during the chaos of the first 1917 revolution.

After his death, Lenin was interred in the wall surrounding Red Square.

Answer: Cher

Cher started singing with her husband Sonny Bono in the mid sixties, where their song "I Got You Babe" was a number one hit in both the US and UK in 1965. Cher went solo in 1966, with a transatlantic top three hit, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)". During the seventies, she and Sonny starred in their hit show "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", which ran for three years.

This show also established Cher as a fashion trendsetter thanks to the elaborate outfits she wore on the show. More solo number one hits in the US led to her becoming the female artist with the most number one hits in the US to that date.

After divorcing Sonny in 1975, Cher made a come back disco album "Take Me Home" in 1979. Cher's Broadway debut was in 1982's play "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean", and she also starred in the film adaption.

Other film appearances include "Silkwood" (1983), "Mask" (1985), "The Witches of Eastwick", and "Moonstruck" in 1989, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress. Cher was still performing in 2019.

Answer: Margot Fonteyn

Margot Fonteyn became the prima ballerina of the Saddlers Wells Theatre (latterly the Royal Ballet) in 1935 and prima ballerina assoluta, though she probably wasn't dancing as part of the Company, being 60 at the time, with the consent of Queen Elizabeth II. Her most famous partnership was with Rudolph Nureyev.
Peggy Ashcroft was a well-known actor. Agatha Christie is probably the best-known crime writer ever and Julie Christie is an English actor, with multiple awards under her belt.

Answer: Sting

Sting was born up in Wallsend, Northumbria in the north east of England, making him a proper Geordie. Sting came by his moniker due to his penchant for wearing a yellow and black jumper while playing in his first band as a teen.

Answer: Leon Trotsky

Trotsky was born as Lev Bronstein into a relatively well-off family before finding communism. His beliefs, and helping plan the failed 1905 revolution, got him arrested by the Czarist regime. He managed to escape from imprisonment and found his way to London in the UK where he met Lenin, where they plotted the successful November 1917 revolution. Trotsky left Russia rather hurriedly when it became clear that it would be Stalin, not himself, taking the levers of power after Lenin's death, making it to Mexico before meeting his death with an ice pick to the head.

Answer: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford was the 38th president of the USA. He was promoted to the position of Vice President after President Nixon's original vice president, Spiro Agnew, was forced to resign over criminal acts committed in his post as Governor of Maryland. He became President after Nixon resigned over the Watergate Affair.

He failed to be re-elected running against Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election. Ford died in 2005.

Answer: Natalie Portman

While all four actors play characters from "Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace", it's Ms. Portman who was born Neeta-Lee (sometimes recorded as Natalie) Hershlag in Jerusalem Israel. Portman comes from her Russian Jewish grandmother's last name. Her role in "The Phantom Menace" was Queen Amidala/Padme.

Penilla August played Shmi Skywalker, Celia Imrie played Fighter pilot Bravo 5, and the surprise entry on this list, Keira Knightly, played Sabe.