Many of us wonder what it would be like to be a celebrity. But for these three Aussies, they get a little taste each day.
Kate Middleton, Kylie Jenner and James Bond share their names with some of the biggest stars in the world but it’s not as glamorous as it sounds.
They shared their experiences with Take 5 below.
Kate Middleton, 23, Brisbane, Qld
My teacher called out to the class as I walked into the room.
“Stand up, everybody, the princess is here,” she joked.
I looked around in confusion – I was only 10 years old and had no idea what she was talking about.
Back home that day, I recalled the strange event to Mum, and she smiled.
“That’s because Prince William has started dating someone called Kate Middleton,” she explained.
From that day, I’ve had to put up with all sorts of jokes about my name, which just happens to be the same as the Duchess of Cambridge.
“Wow, I’m talking to royalty,” people quip, thinking they’re cracking an original joke.
When I was 16, I tried logging onto Facebook, only to find my account had been deleted.
I’m happy to share my name with the future Queen of England.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)They thought I was impersonating a celebrity.
To prove that I wasn’t, they asked me to send in a copy of either my birth certificate or license.
It seemed like too much effort.
I might have been a teen who loved social media, but I didn’t want to hand over important documents online.
Thankfully, there must have been a few other Kate Middletons in the same position, because I got my access back without needing to prove I wasn’t an impostor.
I was never that interested in the royal family, but after watching the British TV drama The Crown, I’ve started to appreciate them.
I think Kate’s so elegant and classy; she always presents herself really well and is loved by so many people.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
(Image: Getty Images)My boyfriend, Kurt, often forgets about my name. But, one morning, his mum gave him some bad news.
“Kate’s in hospital,” she said.
“Hospital?” he asked, panicked.
“Yes,” she replied. “She’s pregnant!”
The poor guy was a nervous wreck, thinking that I was the one having a baby!
Of course, his mum was talking about the other Kate Middleton.
I laughed when he told me the story.
Sometimes Kurt jokes about what will happen if we get married.
“I’m dying to change my name,” I told him. “Then I could just fly under the radar.”
“Nah,” Kurt said. “You should keep it. It suits you.”
We’ll have to see how long I stay Kate Middleton for, but if I ever had the chance to meet the princess, there’s one thing I’d say: “Kate, you stole my name!”
Kylie Jenner, 53, Perth, WA.
I logged onto Facebook and looked at the screen in shock.
Why are all these teenage boys sending me friend requests? I wondered.
My teenage daughter, Tia, was able to solve the problem quickly.
“Mum, it’s obvious,” she sighed. “Your name’s Kylie Jenner.”
The most famous Kylie I knew was the Aussie popstar, so I Googled my namesake and was stunned.
“Is this woman a porn star?” I gulped.
I soon learned that Kylie Jenner was a reality TV star from the program Keeping Up With The Kardashians, which was enormously popular with teens around the world.
I’m Kylie Jenner.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)Personally, I couldn’t see what the fuss was about.
After glimpsing a few seconds of the show, I knew that these people didn’t live in reality.
I was quite happy with my normal life as a nurse and mum of three.
As the influence of the Kardashian clan spread and made them a global phenomenon, I ignored the craze completely.
But there have been times when I’ve left people very disappointed.
One day, I went to a clothes store to pick up an order I’d made.
“Oh,” the sales attendant said, looking deflated.
When I asked what was wrong, she explained how the entire staff had been buzzing with excitement thinking that a celebrity was coming in.
My kids had to explain to me who “Kylie Jenner” was!
(Image: Supplied)“Sorry to disappoint you,” I replied. But it wasn’t exactly my fault!
It doesn’t bother me that I share the same name as someone famous – for decades it wasn’t a problem at all, since the American Kylie was only born 22 years ago.
Now that I’m divorced, I could always go back to my maiden name, but I insist that I’m far too busy to keep up with the Kardashians or any of their mob – I’ve got my own Jenners to deal with, and that’s enough for me!
“I’m far too busy to keep up with the Kardashians or any of their mob – I’ve got my own Jenners to deal with, and that’s enough for me!”
(Image: Getty Images)James Bond, 33, Perth, WA.
Running through the playground, I chased after the villain as fast as I could.
The James Bond movies were my favourite, and I loved acting them out at school with my classmates.
“Bond, James Bond,” I said in my best British accent.
I shared the same first name as the fictional spy and hoped that one day I’d end up on the big screen as an actor myself.
I couldn’t believe my luck when I was 15 and my mum, Karen, got remarried.
We all decided to change our surnames with her, which meant I was finally going to become James Bond – I couldn’t think of anything cooler!
I’d jump at the chance to play 007 on the big screen!
(Image exclusive to Take 5)As I grew up and started dating girls, many of them loved the idea of being a “Bond girl”.
But not everyone believed me, either.
I worked at a car dealership where one customer rang up in a huff.
“I keep getting prank phone calls from someone pretending to be James Bond,” he grumbled.
Other times, when I say my name, people think they’ve heard incorrectly and call me James Blonde.
I know some people get tired of sharing the same name as someone famous, but I absolutely love it!
While I think Sean Connery has done the best job, I look most like Daniel Craig.
(Image: Getty Images)There have been many actors who’ve tried their hand at being 007, and while I think Sean Connery has done the best job, I look most like Daniel Craig.
These days, I model and perform in films and hope to one day become as famous as my namesake.
