For a long time, I'd been blissfully unaware of the fame I shared with an 18th-century American leader. She was known as Mother Ann Lee, and her followers believed that celibacy was a core part of their faith. When news broke of a new musical called The Testament of Ann Lee, starring Amanda Seyfried, my friend Matt texted me to say that he'd heard the film title was dedicated to me. I thought it was hilarious at first.
The truth is, having a name that's shared by more than 100 million people in Asia isn't uncommon. But when you're mentioned in a prestigious Hollywood film, it's a different story altogether. The Testament of Ann Lee turned out to be a sweeping musical that follows the life of Mother Ann Lee as she builds her Shaker community from scratch.
When I attended the preview screening and Q&A session with Seyfried and director Mona Fastvold, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that my name was plastered across the screen behind them in giant letters. It's not often that you get to see your name associated with such grand ambition and energy.
I know what it's like to be teased about sharing a name with someone else, especially when people think they're talking to another celebrity altogether. I've had people ask me if I'm Ang Lee, the Taiwanese director who made Brokeback Mountain, or if I'm some other notable figure with a similar name.
But The Testament of Ann Lee was different. It was a film that transported you to 18th-century America, with its animalistic fervour and thundering dance sequences. Amanda Seyfried brought Mother Ann Lee to life in a way that was both captivating and unsettling at the same time.
As for me, well, I'm not sure if sharing my name with this iconic figure will spur me on to greater things. But I do know that it's given me a new sense of purpose and identity. And who knows? Maybe I'll even find my own path to glory – something Mother Ann Lee would have surely approved of.
I couldn't help but wonder, though, what it's like for other people out there with the same name as famous figures. Are they teased about it? Do they feel pressure to live up to their namesakes' achievements? And how do they navigate a lifetime of jokes and comments about being "the one" or "that person"?
These are questions I'll have to ponder for a while longer, but for now, I'm just happy to see my name in lights – even if it's not entirely me shining through.
The truth is, having a name that's shared by more than 100 million people in Asia isn't uncommon. But when you're mentioned in a prestigious Hollywood film, it's a different story altogether. The Testament of Ann Lee turned out to be a sweeping musical that follows the life of Mother Ann Lee as she builds her Shaker community from scratch.
When I attended the preview screening and Q&A session with Seyfried and director Mona Fastvold, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that my name was plastered across the screen behind them in giant letters. It's not often that you get to see your name associated with such grand ambition and energy.
I know what it's like to be teased about sharing a name with someone else, especially when people think they're talking to another celebrity altogether. I've had people ask me if I'm Ang Lee, the Taiwanese director who made Brokeback Mountain, or if I'm some other notable figure with a similar name.
But The Testament of Ann Lee was different. It was a film that transported you to 18th-century America, with its animalistic fervour and thundering dance sequences. Amanda Seyfried brought Mother Ann Lee to life in a way that was both captivating and unsettling at the same time.
As for me, well, I'm not sure if sharing my name with this iconic figure will spur me on to greater things. But I do know that it's given me a new sense of purpose and identity. And who knows? Maybe I'll even find my own path to glory – something Mother Ann Lee would have surely approved of.
I couldn't help but wonder, though, what it's like for other people out there with the same name as famous figures. Are they teased about it? Do they feel pressure to live up to their namesakes' achievements? And how do they navigate a lifetime of jokes and comments about being "the one" or "that person"?
These are questions I'll have to ponder for a while longer, but for now, I'm just happy to see my name in lights – even if it's not entirely me shining through.
so i had no idea about mother ann lee and her shaker community until this movie came out... like who knew? 
and now my name is being plastered all over the screen behind amanda seyfried lol what a wild ride. but seriously, it's kinda cool to think that i'm somehow connected to this historical figure even if it's just by sharing her name. maybe it'll inspire me to be more than just a face in the crowd 
. and yeah idk how people feel about sharing a name with famous ppl, i mean my friends r always makin jokes about me lookin like amy lee from evanescence lol 
but idk if its cool or just annoying 
. anyhoo, thx for the convo about ann lee tho 
it made me think about how weird its to share a name with someone who lived over 200 yrs ago 
. I've had people ask me if I'm Beyoncé or Jay-Z 
too (nope, not that queen 
). But seriously though, it's funny how it can be both a blessing and a curse 
. Like, on one hand, you get to experience the excitement of being part of something bigger than yourself 
, but on the other hand, people tend to make assumptions about you 
. I'm just happy that I got to attend that premiere and feel like my name was on the same page as Amanda Seyfried's 
. For those out there with shared names, how do you handle the jokes and comments? 
but for real though, it must be crazy 2 have people asking if u r another celebrity or someone else lol. i think its great that u got to experience something so cool w/ Amanda Seyfried tho, and i love how she brought Mother Ann Lee to life in a way that was both captivating & unsettling at the same time 
.
! I mean, sure, you might get teased by people who think you're someone else 
? Do you think they'd be nervous or inspired to live up to the legend? Maybe we should start a support group for "same-name-squad" 
- just kidding, but seriously, kudos to Amanda Seyfried for rocking that title! 
, and it made me think of how much we all love a good gossip session with friends over coffee 
️. I was talking to my friend Emily the other day (just a coincidence, I swear!), and she was telling me about her cousin's sister who's been called "that Emma from The Office" because their shared name 
. It got me thinking... have you ever had one of those moments where you're like "wait, nope, I'm not that person"? 
especially since you didn't realize your name was connected to someone famous at first lol. It's like, whoa, you're a part of something bigger than yourself! The film itself sounds really epic and I can see why Amanda Seyfried brought Mother Ann Lee to life so well