Modern Family's Aubrey Anderson-Emmons has changed her name as she makes a career change.
The 18-year-old is, of course, best known for playing Lily Tucker-Pritchett (fans know the importance of that hyphen) on Modern Family.
She made her debut on the popular TV show at just four years old and was quickly loved for her snappy one-liners and iconic attitude.
Rocketing her into spotlight as a child star, she stayed in the US sitcom until it came to an end in 2020 after 11 seasons.
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And at the age of 12 at the time, the teen decided she wasn’t ‘gonna act anymore.’
But while she might be leaving the acting to the side (for now at least), she isn’t totally straying outside of the world of entertainment. Although, she’s leaving ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons’ behind to be Frances Anderson.
Why did Aubrey Anderson-Emmons change her name?
This new name comes as she pivots to a career in music, having just released her first EP, Drown.
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“Frances is actually part of my legal name—it’s my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,” she told E! News.
“I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.”
Plus, Anderson figured it worked well as she starts off her new music venture.
“I wanted to switch it up and I wanted people to see a new side of me. And I wanted to create a space specifically just for music,” she added.
While the star had taken singing lessons throughout much of her life, it wasn’t until Modern Family was coming to its end that she decided music was her passion.
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“I think I really had to take a step back from acting,” she said of the realisation.
However, that’s changed a little after time as Anderson added: “And I do now, I plan on acting again—100 percent.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the child actor learned how to play guitar and having been homeschooled throughout her time on TV, she went to high school.
“I learned to really write during my high school music class, and before then I’ve always been a singer,” she explained.
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“One of my big dreams in life was to be on Broadway. I’m still hoping to do that one day—fingers crossed.”
Her (Modern) family have shown their support for her new venture, particularly onscreen dad, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who she keeps most in touch with.
“He’s commented every now and then, and pulled up on my Story and been like, ‘Wow, you sound so great.’ Which is awesome. He’s always been so supportive,” Anderson said.
What happened to the other Modern Family kids?
Ariel Winter - Alex Dunphy
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Winter first starred in Modern Family at just 11 years old, and being skyrocketed to fame took its toll.
Now 27, she told People this year: "It was just everywhere. It was every headline I read about myself, like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat sl*t. I mean, I was 14."
Winter also endured a turbulent home life, being placed in the care or her older sister by the Department of Child and Family Protective Services aged 14.
When Modern Family wrapped she moved out of LA and now lives a quieter life with her boyfriend and six dogs.
Sarah Hyland - Haley Dunphy
Aged 19 when the show began, like Aubrey Sarah has transitioned to music, starring in viral videos with Boyce Avenue covering popular songs.
She's also co-founded a business selling vitamin-infused chocolate, which she says is good for your hair, skin and nails.
Rico Rodriguez - Manny Delgado
Just 11 when he first appeared in Modern Family, Rico now looks totally different, sporting a beard at the premiere of horror film Until Dawn this year.
He has taken a handful of acting roles since the show wrapped in 2020, with the latest being a voice role in animated film Sneaks.
Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity News, Music, TV and Film, Entertainment
Jess Battison