Oona Chaplin, currently promoting Avatar: Fire and Ash, has opened up about why she once considered dropping her famous last name to step out of her grandfather Charlie Chaplin’s shadow.
The 39-year-old actress admitted that growing up with such a legendary legacy made her struggle with feeling deserving of her success, knowing doors may have opened because of her family name. While graduating from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she even thought about changing her surname but ultimately chose to shift her mindset from guilt to gratitude.
Oona says she now embraces the legacy, believing that if her work leads people to rediscover Charlie Chaplin’s films, she is happy to honor his genius. Her first name also pays tribute to her grandmother, Oona O’Neill, Charlie Chaplin’s fourth wife.
Born in Madrid to actress Geraldine Chaplin, Oona once considered quitting acting altogether and moved to Cuba, where she built a treehouse in the jungle. However, landing a role in Avatar reignited her love for acting and reminded her of the joy of storytelling.