‘Modern Family’ Star Explains Motivation Behind Their Major Name Change

But just like she’s shifted away from their TV character, the real-life actor is now changing their name for a new career shift and taking on the identity of Frances Anderson.

“Frances is actually part of my legal name—it’s my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,” Anderson-Emmons told E! News last week. “I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.”

She added that she also just “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,” the 18-year-old explained. “And I’m so excited for everybody to hear the songs on the EP, and I’m so grateful.”

Anderson’s first EP, called “Drown,” was released last week.

“I started acting at four and worked pretty consistently until I was twelve,” she shared in an article, published last week.

“It wasn’t a violent entrance into the industry — it was honestly fine. But when you’re a kid, you don’t really choose that path,” Anderson added. “You don’t have a lot of autonomy or self-discipline yet, and you’re surrounded by adults. That can be isolating. No kids my age on set. No friends.”

While the teenager said that “acting taught me professionalism,” she added that “music gave me community.”

“Especially in theater and musical theater — those worlds felt a lot warmer than screen acting ever did,” she shared. “Musicians are just more open, in my experience.”