Emma Stone Reveals She Changed Her Name Because Of Baby Spice

Emma Stone has revealed that ‘Emma’ - which is not the star's real name - was partly inspired by Spice Girl Emma Bunton.

The 25-year-old’s real name is Emily but, she explained during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live: “My name was taken at the Screen Actors Guild by one of the girls on Australia’s Next Top Model, when I was 16.”

The Spider-Man star chose “Emma” because, she said: “It’s close to my real name and then also I had this little thing that recently happened with the Spice Girls talking to me.”

Last week the actress, who’s appeared in Superbad and Easy A, was surprised by Spice Girl Mel B who sent her a message via iPad during a radio interview in Australia, causing Emma to cry – and rap a verse from the band’s hit single Wannabe.

“I mean, I didn’t change it thinking one day Scary Spice would talk to me,” Emma clarified. “But when I was in second grade I did ask the teacher on the first day of school to call me Emma because I always wanted to be Baby Spice.”

“It stuck for, like, a day and I didn’t know that years later everybody would be calling me Emma instead of Emily. So I’m Baby Spice for life!”

When asked whether Emma had ever met Emma Bunton, the red-head replied: “No, I’ve never met Baby Spice.”

“I think I’ll be able to get my bearings a little bit,” she responded when asked if she’d cry upon meeting the Spice Girl. “I just have to be forewarned and I’ll be OK.”