Reese Witherspoon fans are left stunned to learn the actress’s REAL name – as even her close friend Nicole Kidman admits she had NO idea the starlet had another moniker

Reese Witherspoon fans have been left stunned after the actress reminded the world that the moniker they know her by so well is actually not her real name, while taking part in an interview along close pal Nicole Kidman. 

The Legally Blonde actress has been in the spotlight her whole life, but behind the glitz and glamour and flashing lights, she’s known very differently to her nearest and dearest. 

When she began her acting career, the 48-year-old – who was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon – decided to shorten the moniker to her mother’s maiden name. 

And the name helped her go far as she became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. 

However, people still often forget that Reese was born Laura – including actress Nicole who let her friend’s real name slip her mind in a recent interview about the production of Big Little Lies.

Fans were left in shocked after Reese Witherspoon gave them a reminder of her real name in her latest interview along close pal Nicole Kidman

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Nicole, 56, Reese reminded her pal of her real name as they were discussing their co-star Laura Dern.

The Cruel Intentions actress revealed that she referred to their co-star by her last name, which left Nicole in a state of confusion. 

‘My other favorite thing is that I called Dern when we were shooting Big Little Lies,’ Reese said. Nicole quickly interrupted and made her feelings about the nickname clear. 

‘I hate how you call her Dern though. It sounds weird. I’m always like, “Laura” and you’re like, “no, Dern, Dern, Dern,”‘ the Aquaman star said. 

Reese assured her friend that she would tell her why she opts for the nickname. 

‘Do you know why? Because my name is Laura and her name is Laura and it’s confusing to me,’ the blonde beauty said. 

Nicole made it clear that she had forgotten her pal’s birthname and replied: ‘Oh that’s right.’  

‘So I get confused and so I call her Dern because we can’t both be Laura,’ Reese clarified. 

However, people still often forget that Reese was born as Laura - including actress Nicole who let her friend's real name slip her mind

However, people still often forget that Reese was born as Laura – including actress Nicole who let her friend’s real name slip her mind

When she began her acting career, the 48-year-old - who was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon - decided to shorten it to her mother's maiden name

When she began her acting career, the 48-year-old – who was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon – decided to shorten it to her mother’s maiden name

Fans took to social media to express their shock at discovering the star's moniker

Fans took to social media to express their shock at discovering the star’s moniker

However, her explanation was cut short as Nicole quickly called her friend out.

‘But she doesn’t call you Laura, though,’ Nicole added. 

Reese jokingly responded: ‘I don’t understand your point, I don’t like your tone, you’re trying to understand something.’ 

Nicole noted that she would ‘stay out of it’ at the end of the clip. 

And Expats actress wasn’t the only one who was left in a state of confusion upon learning Reese’s real name. 

Fans took to social media to express their shock at discovering the star’s moniker.

One person said: ‘I was today years old when I found out Reese’s real name is Laura lmao.’ 

Someone else wrote: ‘Reese acting like ANYONE calls her Laura.’ 

One user questioned: ‘Reese is Laura?!’ 

‘Even Nicole didn’t know,’ added another person. 

One person said: ‘I did not know her full name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon!’ 

Someone else added: ‘Wait Reese has a real name.’ 

Nicole recently revealed that she and Reese were 'moving fast and furious' on Big Little Lies season three

Nicole recently revealed that she and Reese were ‘moving fast and furious’ on Big Little Lies season three

‘Reese is LAURA???!!!! I never knew!’ someone else said. 

One user added: ‘Never did I ever know that was her real name.’ 

Nicole recently revealed that she and Reese were ‘moving fast and furious’ on Big Little Lies season three.

Based on a novel by Liane Moriarty, the HBO show was initially meant to be a one-season miniseries, but was such a runaway success with fans and critics that it received a second season, and now has yet another one in the works.

Reese and Nicole both starred on and executive produced the series, which follows the intrigues and scandals simmering underneath the gilded lives of a group of suburban mothers in tony Monterey, California.

Reese seems to be in the midst of many major projects as she recently announced that she was working on a prequel series for Legally Blonde.

Following the pink-filled announcement that saw the 48-year-old actress reprising her role to deliver the news about the spin-off TV series – more than two decades after the film premiered –  fans couldn’t contain their excitement and began theorizing about who should star as the blonde beauty. 

The prequel, titled Elle, will feature the character’s origin story as the protagonist navigates her way through high school before becoming a Harvard Law student. 

Many fans took to social media to call on the star’s daughter, Ava, to play young Elle. 

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