Kat Dennings Shares Origins of Her Stage Name

The actress explains how she chose her name at age nine and reflects on early challenges in her acting career.

Kat Dennings, born Katherine Victoria Litwack, decided to change her name at the age of nine, feeling her given name was unsuitable for show business.
Her first name, 'Kat,' was inspired by Christina Ricci's character in the 1995 film 'Casper,' her favorite character at the time.
The surname 'Dennings' was adapted from Janine Denni, the wife of her mother's close friend and children's author Lloyd Alexander.
Dennings described the decision as a 'CEO situation,' envisioning a name that would look better on a poster.
Reflecting on her early career, she revealed facing harsh criticism as a child actor, including being labeled 'fat' and 'not pretty enough,' but credits her resilience and supportive parents for helping her persevere.