Tina Fey Doesn't Go By Her Real Name. Here's Why
Lifestyle - News
By GRETCHEN STERBA
Tina Fey has graced many of our screens, from playing Liz Lemon in "30 Rock" to becoming a "Weekend Update" anchor on "Saturday Night Live" to Ms. Norbury in "Mean Girls." Some may be surprised to learn that the comedian, writer, and actress does not use her legal first name.
Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, with her middle name drawn from her mother's Greek ancestry. "My first name is Elizabeth, but I've always gone by Tina even in, you know, from elementary school on," she explained, and she hoped that "Tina" would sound more "hip" to fit the entertainment industry.
Her "30 Rock" character Liz Lemon was inspired by her experience as the head writer during her tenure on "Saturday Night Live." Fey personalized her iconic, dorky character even further by naming her "Liz," a shortened nickname of her real first name Elizabeth.