Kat Dennings, the beloved actress known for her roles on popular shows like 2 Broke Girls and her appearances as Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has opened up about the surprising origin of her stage name. On the March 13, 2025 episode of the podcast Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce, Dennings revealed she made the decision to change her name at the tender age of nine.
Having been born Katherine Litwack, Dennings realized early on her birth name simply wasn't going to work for her budding career. "At nine, I was like, 'This isn't going to work for me; this is not going to work. I can't see my name on a poster,'" she recounted jokingly during the podcast. She elaborated, saying, "She, slash I, was very ahead of her time. It was like, 'This can't be displayed on a poster. It shan't happen!'
This proactive approach not only speaks volumes about her youthful aspirations but also highlights the pressure young actors face as they navigate the world of Hollywood. Dennings portrayed her breakout role just five years later, appearing as the titular character in the Hot Child in the City episode of Sex and the City when she was just 14.
Her stage name, Dennings, is rooted deeply in her childhood memories. She took inspiration from Janine Denni, the wife of her mother's best friend and author Lloyd Alexander. "I thought it would be a super-sick idea if I took her name and made it kinda different," she noted during the podcast episode. This unique adaptation was just one part of her newfound identity.
Alongside her last name derived from Janine, Dennings also decided to shorten her first name to Kat—reflecting her admiration for Christina Ricci's character Kat from the beloved 1995 movie Casper. "I was like, 'Okay, Kat Dennings, this is it. I can really picture it,'" she remembered fondly.
When asked by Philadelphia Magazine about her real name, Dennings candidly described it as "a little hideous," adding depth to her choice to adopt her stage name. The actress expressed the need for authenticity, saying she wanted to know who truly knew her when she entered the industry. "I didn’t want to use my family name because I thought, A, it was a little hideous, and B, I wanted to know when someone really knew me or they didn’t. I was a precocious youngster," she disclosed.
But it wasn't just about her name. Dennings recounted her early experiences auditioning for roles—a time she described as harsh and unforgiving. She faced judgments from casting directors, who labeled her as "fat" and "not pretty enough." This cruel mentality prevalent at the time made her entryway to the industry much more complicated. "There was not a lot of inclusivity at all. It was very harsh. There was a lot of extremely negative feedback, and people would not hold back," she shared with People Magazine.
Her experiences reflect the difficulties faced by many child actors trying to forge their path. Where many aspire to make it big, the reality can often be bleak. Dennings' reflections act as both a reminder and cautionary tale about the expectations placed on young stars and the importance of resilience and self-advocacy.
Kat Dennings' story is one of transformation and self-determination. The stages of her life reveal how she carefully crafted her identity to suit her career, making bold decisions at such a young age. With her initiative and foresight, numerous audiences have since connected with her on screen, and she continues to inspire countless others maneuvering similar paths.
Now, as she reflects on her beginnings and how she branded herself for success, Dennings embodies the notion of the empowered woman—drawing strength from her past experiences to illuminate the future.
