Celebrities Embrace the Confusion of Similar Names

It's easy to mix up Catwoman and The Little Mermaid, especially when famous people like Halle Berry and Halle Bailey have such similar names.

Hollywood has been fooled by stars like Tom Holland and Tom Hollander, as well as Dermot Mulroney and Dylan McDermott, who may seem like they have doppelgangers, but they're really just sharing a common name.

When asked if he ever gets tired of being mistaken for McDermott, Mulroney confessed that he doesn't mind at all.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in February 2024, the My Best Friend’s Wedding actor shared, “It’s like people had me confused with McDermott even before memes existed. This mix-up became popular before the whole meme and viral culture took off. Many trends died out once they became memes, but this one has managed to stay relevant. It’s quite impressive.”

Keep scrolling for more celebrities who have spoken about their names being confused for one another:

What Similar Named Celebs Have Said About Being Confused for Each Other

Halle Berry and Halle Bailey. Getty images (2)

Halle Berry and Halle Bailey

Berry became famous after starring in Jungle Fever in 1991, while Bailey gained popularity by starting a YouTube channel with her sister at the age of 11, where they covered Beyoncé songs. Bailey has since appeared in films like The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple.

In February 2024, the sisters made news when they were photographed together at a Major League Soccer game in California.

Berry expressed her admiration for Halle Bailey via Instagram, stating, “When two Halles link up truly adore you @hallebailey.” In response, Bailey expressed her excitement, saying, “I was living for this moment!! thank you for being so kind to me you’ve made my life.”

When Bailey was announced as the actress playing The Little Mermaid in 2021, a fan mistook her for Berry.

A user expressed excitement about seeing Berry in an underwater setting, to which Berry humorously corrected the user by saying she can't wait to see her too.

In July 2019, Berry congratulated Bailey on becoming a Disney princess and highlighted the success of women named Halle by saying "Halles get it DONE." She wished Bailey well on her new opportunity and expressed eagerness to see her in action.

Bailey responded with gratitude, saying, "This means a lot to me. I'm happy to share names with you. Love you so much."

Bailey shared on Live With Kelly and Mark in May 2023 that her parents took into account the resemblance between her name and Berry's when deciding on her name.

My family has always been big fans of Halle Berry. When I was a baby, they thought about naming me Hailey, but with my last name being Bailey, that wouldn't have made sense. So, they ended up choosing Halle instead. It's quite similar to Halle Berry's name, but I don't mind at all because she's really cool and I wouldn't want to have a similar name to anyone else.

What Similar Named Celebs Have Said About Being Confused for Each Other

Dylan McDermott and Dermot Mulroney. Getty Images (2)

Dylan McDermott and Dermot Mulroney

Dylan McDermott gained fame for his role on The Practice in 1997, while Dermot Mulroney has been a well-known actor since Long Gone in 1987. Mulroney expressed his gratitude for their friendship by saying he feels fortunate to have McDermott alongside him on a similar life path.

Michael B. Jordan and Michael Jordan

"I believe that together, we have a bigger impact than we would have on our own," he shared with Entertainment Weekly in February 2024. "We complement each other more than we initially thought. It has been an incredible experience, and it continues to grow as even younger audiences find it amusing, sparking a resurgence. So, stay tuned for more laughter and happiness to come from this strange non-identity crisis."

Michael B. Jordan started his acting career in 1999. He has appeared in movies like Creed (2015) and Black Panther (2018). On the other hand, Michael Jordan is known as a legendary NBA player.

Despite their shared name, Michael B. Jordan admitted that he has never met Michael Jordan in person. He mentioned that he is not ready to meet the NBA icon just yet.

He mentioned in an interview with Men's Health in May 2018 that he has never met Michael Jordan and prefers to wait until they both know each other and have mutual respect. This motivates him to keep working towards that goal.

He acknowledged that having the same name as the legendary NBA player has presented challenges along the way.

I have a competitive spirit. It all stems from my name. Being named after Michael Jordan, I felt the need to excel in everything I do, especially in sports where I was often teased. I couldn't bear the thought of not living up to my name. This drive to compete has carried over to all aspects of my life. I strive to be as great, if not greater, than he was in his field.

What Similar Named Celebs Have Said About Being Confused for Each Other

Tom Holland and Tom Hollander. Getty Images (2)

Tom Holland and Tom Hollander

Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Meanwhile, Hollander has worked on various projects, such as The White Lotus season 2 in 2022.

In January 2024, during an interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Hollander expressed the challenges of sharing a name with Holland. He mentioned, "it's been very difficult because, you know, I was here first. But he's enormously famous."

When both actors were briefly signed to the same agency, there was confusion in the accounts department. This confusion led to a terrible moment when Hollander mistakenly received Holland's paycheck.

Hollander recalled receiving an email from the agency about a payment for his first box office bonus for The Avengers. He was surprised because he knew he wasn't in The Avengers. The amount of money he received was astonishing.

Hollander clarified that the large sum of money he received was not Holland's salary for the film, but his "first box office bonus." He mentioned, "It was more money than I've ever seen before - a seven-figure sum. He was 20 or something."

Hollander also mentioned that despite their similar names, he doesn't really get mistaken for Holland based on their appearances.

“But in non-visual contexts, I am mistaken for him all the time,” he said.

Michelle Williams and Michelle Williams

Williams, the actress, gained recognition for her role in Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. She later received several Oscar nominations. Meanwhile, Williams, the singer, became famous as part of Destiny's Child.

In 2019, the actress won an Emmy award. Following this, the singer addressed the issue of fans frequently mistaking the two of them.

In an Instagram Live video, she expressed her frustration about people not acknowledging her race when tagging and congratulating others. She emphasized that when people search for her profile, they will find that she is black and not mixed with any other ethnicity. She clarified that she is not mixed with Persian or Russian, she is purely black.

The singer mentioned that she had received social media messages following an actress' speech about pay equality during an acceptance speech.

"I was a bit confused as to why I was receiving negative comments for supporting Michelle Williams' speech. I personally thought her speech was powerful and authentic. I even mentioned to someone on Instagram that I apologized if my namesake offended them, but I am proud of my identity as a black woman."

Even though there was a mistake, I still stand by Michelle Williams and her speech. I believe she was stunning, intelligent, and perfectly portrayed Gwen Verdon. Overall, I thought she did an amazing job!"

She concluded, “Now get it right, and stop cussing me out.”

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the amusing and sometimes challenging experiences of celebrities who share similar names. It highlights the confusion that arises when fans and the media mix up these individuals, leading to humorous anecdotes and even financial mishaps. The celebrities featured in the article, such as Halle Berry and Dylan McDermott, share their perspectives on how they navigate these name-related mix-ups, often with a sense of humor and camaraderie.

The article also touches on the impact of shared names on personal identity and career paths. Michael B. Jordan, who shares a name with the legendary NBA star, reflects on the pressure he feels to live up to the greatness associated with his namesake. Michelle Williams, both an actress and a singer, addresses the issue of racial misidentification in the context of name confusion, highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating individual identities. Overall, the article offers a lighthearted look at the complexities and occasional absurdities that arise when celebrities share similar names.