Thandiwe Newton is overwhelmed at inspiring others to reclaim their names: ‘I’m broken wide open by this’

Thandiwe Newton has shared her feelings with her followers after finding out many of her fans have also been inspired to reclaim their authentic names. 

The actress, 48, appeared on the cover of Vogue with her real name this week after going by Thandie for 30 years following a misspelling of her name in the credits of her first movie in 1991. 

At the start of her career, she played a character also called Thandiwe in Flirting and while the character’s name was credited correctly, the ‘w’ was left out of her name as the actress. 

She told Vogue: ‘That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.’ 

After reverting back to her authentic name, many of her fans had reached out to Thandiwe on social media to say they were inspired to do the same too. 

One wrote: ‘So inspired by @thandienewton reclaiming her full name. My full name is Tanyaradzwa~ which means “we have been comforted”, I was named this because I was born the year my grandfather died.

‘In case you didn’t see this Thandiwe! You’ve inspired people and got them talking about the power of our names.’

Thandiwe shared the post, responding: ‘I’m broken wide open by this – I was afraid to do it, but look at the reaction? Reclamation is so powerful. We have to help each other do the same.’

Elsewhere in the interview, Thandiwe also recalled the abuse she suffered while trying to make it in Hollywood. 

She explained: ‘There’s a moment where the ghost of me changed, you know. And it was then, I was 16. 

‘He derailed me from myself utterly. I was traumatised. It was a kind of PTSD for sure. 

‘I was so distraught and appalled that a director had abused a young actress, and that it was happening elsewhere, minors getting abused and how f**ked up it was. I was basically waiting for someone to come along and say, “Well, what shall we do about this?”’ 

‘I have a seventh sense for abuse and abusers which I believe is one of the reasons why I was rejected a lot in Hollywood. I’ll talk about it until the cows come home, because I know I’ll be helping someone.’ 

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