“Half Of A Yellow Sun” star, Thandie Newton is reclaiming her real name. In TV and film credits, the Emmy-winning British actress has changed her name to Thandiwe Newton.

Newton told British Vogue in a recent interview that she was now able to own her name after it was misspelt in the credits of her first feature, ‘Flirting,’ in 1991. “That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine,” Newton commented.

Thandiwe is a Shona term that means “beloved” in Zimbabwe, where her mother is from.

In the Vogue interview, Newton said ‘Flirting’ director John Duigan asked her to be “a bit darker” for the role, and repeated allegations of what she has previously described as a “coerced” sexual relationship with him.

She recalled other derogatory incidents of racism and sexual abuse, including a director who abused her and then showed others footage of the incident.

“I was traumatised,” she told the magazine.

She spoke frankly about her battle with an eating disorder, calling it “the most horrific dance with something that’s supposed to bring you life. Black women are truly the nexus where all of this overlaps,” she said.

“Think of what else has the potential to heal if we support and care for black women.”