News | Entertainment
29 Oct 2025 15:47
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Emma Stone changed her name to Riley for six months

    The 36-year-old actress discovered early on in her career that she couldn't work in the entertainment industry under her birth name of Emily Stone because there was already someone with that moniker registered with the actors union so she picked a "beautiful" stage name which she used for six months


    During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Emma explained: "I actually adopted a stage name for, I would say, like six months. Because the Screen Actors Guild, it's like the Business Bureau. You can only have one person with that name.

    "I was 16, and I decided I wanted to be Riley for like six months. So I was Riley Stone, which is a beautiful name."

    However, Emma admits she struggled to get used to being called Riley when she was working.

    She added: "I did an episode, like a guest part, on Malcolm in the Middle, and they kept going like: 'Riley! Riley!' And I had no idea who they were talking to. Truly. And I was like: 'I cannot be Riley.' Like, it's such a ... It came out of nowhere. I was just like: 'Cool name. I'll just be Riley'."

    The actress then decided to switch to Emma Stone because it was sounded similar to her birth name of Emily.

    She added: "So I then changed it to 'Emma' because it's close enough to 'Emily'."

    The Oscar-winner previously admitted she would love to revert back to her real name of Emily because it can become very confusing at times,

    She told The Hollywood Reporter: "When I get to know them, people that I work with do [call me Emily]. It's just because my name was taken [by another actress].

    "Then I freaked out a couple of years ago. For some reason, I was like: 'I can't do it anymore. Just call me Emily' ... "

    When asked if she would correct a fan who called her Emily instead of Emma, the actress replied: "No. That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily."

    During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Poor Things star previously admitted her enthusiasm for the name Emma stemmed partly from her love of Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton when she was growing up.

    Speaking in 2018, she explained: "So growing up, I was super blonde, and my real name is Emily but I wanted to be called Emma because of Baby Spice and guess what? Now I am, so that's really messed up.

    "It wasn't necessarily because of her, but yes, in second grade did I go up to the teacher on the first day and ask her to call me Emma? Yes, I did."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Oct: Simu Liu was "kicked in the face" while filming stunts for The Copenhagen Test
     29 Oct: Sir Anthony Hopkins knew he needed to get help for his drinking when he realised he "could have killed" someone
     29 Oct: John Cleese leads tributes to 'perfect' on-screen wife Prunella Scales
     29 Oct: Hailey Bieber "made a commitment" to herself not to consider Botox injections until she's in her 30s
     29 Oct: Camila Mendes has got engaged to Rudy Mancuso
     29 Oct: Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have made their first public appearance as a couple
     29 Oct: George Clooney insists Hollywood stars are "not allowed to get old"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    George Ford has been selected ahead of Fin Smith at first-five for England against Australia at Twickenham this weekend with Marcus Smith missing altogether More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Population growth has hit the brakes More...



     Today's News

    Netball:
    The Silver Ferns won't lack for belief heading into the deciding Constellation Cup netball test in Christchurch tonight 15:27

    Accident and Emergency:
    Otago Police are seeking information after a Port Chalmers home was damaged by an air rifle 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Simu Liu was "kicked in the face" while filming stunts for The Copenhagen Test 15:21

    Business:
    Population growth has hit the brakes 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Sir Anthony Hopkins knew he needed to get help for his drinking when he realised he "could have killed" someone 14:51

    Entertainment:
    John Cleese leads tributes to 'perfect' on-screen wife Prunella Scales 14:37

    Entertainment:
    Hailey Bieber "made a commitment" to herself not to consider Botox injections until she's in her 30s 14:21

    Health & Safety:
    Thousands of Kiwis with ADHD are expected to benefit from Pharmac's decision to fund another medication 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Camila Mendes has got engaged to Rudy Mancuso 13:51

    Politics:
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders 'powerful' strikes in Gaza 13:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd